Have you checked your brakes lately? Routine brake inspections are important to safe driving and maintaining your vehicle. Paying close attention to the warning signs that your brakes may need repair will go a long way toward keeping you and others safe on the road.
The Car Care Council recommends that motorists watch for seven signs that their brakes need to be inspected:
- Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes. Never ignore squealing brakes. That’s a sign of worn break pads!
- Pulling: vehicle pulls to one side while braking.
- Low Pedal: brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging.
- Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before brakes engage.
- Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal.
- Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions.
- Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle’s dashboard.
Brakes eventually wear down, so checking them periodically – at least once a year – to make sure they are in good shape may help prevent more costly repairs that come from neglect!
