As much as motion is important in a vehicle, which is why vehicles are made, stopping is equally important when you reach your destination or when taking a curve or avoiding a barrier. Brakes are some of the most important parts of a vehicle for without them, accidents cannot be avoided and it would be awkward jumping off the vehicle while it is moving. When it comes to vehicle maintenance and repairs, the braking system is at the top of the list for efficiency and safety purposes. To be in a better position to take care of your brakes, you should be aware of all the signs that there is some maintenance and repairs needed.
An artist’s illustration of a vehicle with no brakes
Image source: fleetwatch.co.za
Through the warning signs the maintenance of your brake system will be an easy affair. Apart from the signs, it is crucial that the brakes are inspected regularly to avoid any incident that might result in an accident. The following are top signs that you can use to determine when and whether your brake system is in need of major or minor repairs.
Noise – if there is any type of noise such as grinding, clicking or screeching when you apply the brakes, then there is an issue that you need to solve before you are faced with an even bigger problem.
Imbalanced Pulling – If there is pulling to one side of the vehicle when you apply brakes, it means that the side has a problem which causes the imbalance between the two sides and this can lead to accelerated tire wear and tear and inconveniences when braking.
Low Pedal – If you have to press the pedal to low before the braking system engages, then you should check the system because this might lead to non responsive braking.
Hard Pedal – Though the pedal should not be extremely soft, hardness can also be difficult to deal with because you will be forced to press hard for a little braking.
Vibration – If there is some vibration when braking, even in slight pressing the system has some unevenness that brings about the vibration.
Grabbing – Grabbing is when the braking system brakes even with a slight touch and this is not efficient because emergency braking in some situations can be extremely dangerous.
New disc brakes for installation
Image source: www.dallasbrakes.com
The braking system is prone to normal wear and tear and malfunctions which is why you should have your car inspected once in a while. Apart from the professional inspection, you should also keep an eye and an ear to the normal warning signs above. There are some factors that will affect the safety of your braking system, such as driving habits, type of vehicle, operating condition and the quality of the braking system and lining materials. Apart from the maintenance, you should always go for high quality braking system parts which will keep the system efficient and long lasting. Motion in a vehicle is important as it gets you from point A to point B, but you will need effective brakes to stop when you reach your destination.
