Is it Time for a Brake Check?

Monday 22 January 2024

Your car's brakes don't speak, but they still know how to communicate. If you notice strange noises or unusual vibrations in the pedal area, it might be time for an inspection! This guide provides information on signs of wear as well as regular inspections for best results.

Recognising Signs of Wear

Recognizing the Language of Your Brakes

Brakes speak their own language! Though they might not use coherent sentences to express themselves, brakes have their own ways of making their feelings known! Common indicators of brake wear may include unusual noises, altered pedal feel or your car leaning away from you more frequently than normal.

• Noisy Protest: If your brakes are making noises that sound similar to squeaking or grinding noises, they could be sending out a message about wear-and-tear on brake pads, or they may have worn down completely and now touch metal against metal, with grinding noises signalling this fact.
• Soft or Spongy Pedal: If your brake pedal seems softer or spongier than usual, or sinks all the way to the floor with minimal resistance, this could be a telltale sign of trouble. This could be caused by excess air or moisture entering the system or an issue with the master cylinder.
• Leaning Vehicle: If your car pulls to one side when applying the brakes, this could be an indicator that its brake linings have worn unevenly or there may be an issue with your brake fluid.

Recognizing these early warning signs could save both lives and money in terms of accident prevention and brake repair.

The Importance of Regular Brake Inspections

Routine brake inspections can serve as a vital preventive measure that could save more than money in the form of lost productivity and repairs. Similar to annual health check-ups, routine brake inspections should form part of your vehicle maintenance routine as a preventative measure that could save lives as well. Here's why:

• Safety First: Brakes are your car's primary safety feature and regular inspections should ensure they remain in optimal condition, ready to respond in an instant should an incident arise. Don't wait until your brakes make loud "noises" or lean excessively before scheduling an * inspection visit!
• Cost-Effective: Routine check-ups can detect issues early and help avoid larger, more costly problems later on. Replacing worn-out pads with new ones is significantly less expensive than replacing damaged rotors which might otherwise need replacement due to being ignored by their vehicle's driver.
• Longevity: With regular maintenance, the lifespan of your brake system is extended significantly. Simply take good care in maintaining them, and they will take good care in return.

Frequent brake inspections are an investment in your own and others' safety, both on the road and at home. A stitch in time saves nine, or in this instance a check-in time saves lives.

Understanding Brake Components

Let's delve into what makes your brakes tick. Think of your system like an orchestra; each part plays an essential part in stopping your car. Here are the main players:

• Brake Pads: When you press your brake pedal, these pads work to stop your vehicle. Over time, however, friction wears them down, diminishing their effectiveness and requiring replacement.
• Rotors: Also called brake discs work hand in hand with your brake pads to create friction and slow your vehicle. However, excess heat generated from this friction may warp your rotors over time and lead to an unsteady brake pedal or pulsing sensation when applying brakes.
• Brake Fluid: Your brake fluid is an unsung hero in your brake system, as it transfers force from your foot on the pedal to pads and rotors allowing you to stop. Low or poor-quality fluid may impede this process leading to an uncomfortable feel at the pedal or, worse still, complete system failure.

Worn-out brake pads may damage rotors while low fluid levels could result in total brake system failure, making keeping an eye on their condition an integral component to maintaining healthy brakes. Therefore, understanding and monitoring these components are vitally important to keeping a healthy brake system.

The Role of Brake Fluid

Many vehicle owners take for granted how vital brake fluid is when it comes to vehicle maintenance, yet it plays an integral part in braking systems. Your brake fluid acts as the medium that transfers force from your foot on the pedal to brake pads and rotors, ultimately stopping your vehicle. Imagine it as your car's lifeblood, flowing throughout its system to deliver stopping power wherever needed. Maintenance of proper fluid level and quality is of utmost importance when it comes to brake fluid replacement. If your fluid has degraded over time, braking could become severely impaired; giving the pedal a spongy feeling or, worse yet, leading to total brake failure. So when should you consider replacing it? Professionals usually recommend changing brake fluid every three years or 40,000 to 60,000 kilometres, keeping an eye out for signs such as its colour shifting from clear to brown as it absorbs moisture and ages. As an effective preventative measure, conducting annual brake fluid checks as part of regular vehicle maintenance and brake service should keep your brakes healthy and your journeys safe.

In conclusion, take time to listen and feel for any changes in the performance of your brakes; regular professional maintenance checks can keep them performing at their best and help ensure the journey remains safe and stress-free.