Maintaining a vehicle’s brakes is something that can often get overlooked by car owners. However, ensuring they are in working order is vital, not only for your safety but to avoid potential costly repairs and more importantly a collision.
Below you will find some useful tips about what to look out for, including a few warning signs and things you can check to see if you need new brakes on your vehicle.
Things you can CHECK to see if you need new brakes:
You can check for wear and tear on your brake pads by looking through the gaps between your wheel spokes.
Things to look for include:
- Corrosion to your brake pads or discs
- Wear to your brake pads or discs
- Distortion
- Scoring on the disc (caused from the backing material behind the pads where the pads have worn too thin)
- Brake fluid – ensure this is topped up every two years.
SIGNS that you might need new brakes
Can you hear any screeching from your brakes?
If you hear a high-pitched screeching sound when applying your brakes, even when your car windows are up, this means that your brake pads need replacing. An exception may be if your brakes have been exposed to water such as after washing your vehicle or by rain. In these cases, the moisture can cause a thin layer of rust to build up on the brake motors. This is perfectly normal, however, if you have any concerns at all about your brakes, go and see a motor mechanic as soon as possible.
Other signs to look out for
- Reduced responsiveness
- Pulling
- Grinding
- Vibration
If you have any concerns about your brakes, our highly trained and experienced technicians will happily take a look for you.