Looking after your brakes

To make sure your vehicle is safe, it’s important to check your brakes regularly. The components of your braking system are consistently subjected to wear and tear. They need regular maintenance to ensure that you can rely on them when you need them. Luckily, there will be a few clear signs that your vehicles brakes need repair or replacement. Spotting potential issues early on will not only keep you safe but also prevent more costly repairs from being necessary further down the line. Find out what you should be looking out for in our latest blog.

1. Brake light

If you see the yellow or red brake light illuminated on your dashboard, it either means that you have a brake inspection coming up or there might be an issue with your brakes.  Either way, you should make sure that you get your brakes checked out.

2. Noises

3. Spongy or soft brake pedal

A spongy or soft brake pedal indicates that your brakes need to be looked at. If you’re experiencing this, you should get your brakes looked at as soon as possible to ensure that your vehicle is safe on the roads.

4. Vibration in the pedal or steering wheel

If your steering wheel or brakes vibrate then your brakes are letting you know that something is wrong. If you leave this too long, your rotors could become misshapen leading to more costly repairs later down the line. It’s important to get your brakes looked at as soon as possible in this situation so that the issue can be resolved quickly and cost effectively.

5. Leaking fluid

Any fluid leaking from your vehicle suggests that the vehicle isn’t functioning as it should. If you notice leaks in the braking system, this means that your brakes aren’t performing as they should be. If this is the case, you should get your vehicle looked at by a professional to diagnose and fix the problem.

6. Car pulls to one side

When your car pulls to one side when braking, it could indicate a brake issue. Brakes aren’t the only cause of car pulling issues; problems with other components of the vehicle such as suspension can also cause your vehicle to pull to one side. As a result of this, if you are experiencing this issue, you should get your vehicle checked so that the cause can be found and the issue rectified.

7. Your brakes are less responsive

If you need to apply more pressure to your brakes to make your vehicle come to a stop, this is one of the early stages of excessive brake pad wear. If this is happening to you, it shouldn’t be ignored and you should get your brakes checked over before your brakes stop performing effectively.

8. Odours coming from your tyres

If you notice strange or unpleasant smells coming from your tyres, this can be a key indicator of brake problems. If you’re experiencing this, you should get your vehicle checked immediately so that the issue can be fixed. This is a sign that a component in your braking system is in need of immediate repair. Therefore, it is important to get it looked at as soon as possible.

Looking after your brakes

Constant braking and accelerating can cause your brake pads to wear faster than usual. If you can, try to avoid harsh braking and accelerating. However, sometimes this is unavoidable if you often have to drive through busy cities. If this is the case, you should get your brakes checked regularly for wear and tear. Making sure that you keep a good distance between your car and the car in front means that you can brake in plenty of time. Less harsh braking will prevent unnecessary additional wear which will help your brake pads to last longer. You should also avoid having items in your vehicle that you don’t need. The more weight your vehicle has to carry, the greater the strain that will be placed on your vehicle.

If you're concerned about your brakes, book a free brake check at your local Tyre Pros and our team will be happy to help.