Your car seems to stop just fine, but you’ve been noticing a squeal or a metal on metal grinding noise. Should you be worried? Or should you say, “I’ll wait a little longer and see if it gets worse”? You should ask the experts at WowWoodys.com, because inspecting and replacing your brake pads may save you money by preventing a “metal-on-metal” condition that accelerates the need to replace expensive rotors and/or drums.
Properly working brakes are essential to vehicle safety and reliability. When you press your brake pedal and stop your tires from spinning, you need to have the confidence that your vehicle will come to a complete and precise stop- every time. Brake pads, shoes, drums, and rotors are made of materials that wear down from heat and friction, even under normal driving conditions, and over time, these same wear issues can also affect the brake’s hydraulic components including calipers, wheel cylinders, and brake hoses. Failure of these brake components can lead to costly repairs and loss of braking.
It’s important to have your brakes checked at least once a year to keep them responsive and to help avoid costly replacements. However, you should have your brakes checked immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Brakes are continuously squeaking, squealing, or grinding
- Your brake or anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light comes on
- Your car jerks or pulls to one side when braking
- You need to pump your brakes for them to work properly
- Your brake pedal feels unusually soft and spongy or hard
- You notice brake fluid leaks around the wheels or engine compartment
So if your vehicle comes to a noisy stop, or just takes a little extra time to stop, contact Deryck or Mike through WowWoodys.com’s Service Department or give them a call at 888-869-0963 x24