Stop: 3 Warning Signs You Need New Brakes 

The average person spends a lot of time behind the wheel of their automobile – eleven hours a week on average, in fact. With that kind of time logged, it’s no surprise that some drivers treat their cars like their second homes.

Taking care of your vehicle properly can be a lot of work, however, and there’s a lot of elements you need to make sure to keep your mind on. Brakes are among the most important of these elements.

When is it time to install new brakes? This can be a big investment, but you also don’t want to be the driver that waits far too long to make the switch. What signs should you look out for when driving? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know. 

1. Squeaking & Squealing

The number one thing to look out for if you think the brakes on your vehicle might be getting old? The most noticeable sign of wear and tear will likely be an audible one.

If you hear squealing or squeaking when you press on the brakes, it’s a good sign that they’ve become worn down past an acceptable amount. Worn-down brake pads mean more than just an irritating sound, they can also mean expensive damage to your rotors.

Once you hear that sound, it should act as an alarm to get your brakes changed as soon as you can. Otherwise, you can be facing much more extensive (and expensive!) repairs ahead. 

2. Taking Longer to Stop

Another telltale sign of brake woes? If it seems like it takes longer to bring your vehicle to a full stop than it used to. This loss in performance is perhaps the most worrying sign of brake failure, as it can actually endanger your life on the road.

When brake pads get worn down, they are less effective at bringing your vehicle to a stop. This can slow your reaction time to events on the road, and can even lead to an accident.

You’ll want to head to a brake mechanic as soon as you can, or speak to auto professionals such as the ones at sportcompactwarehouse.com.

3. Brake Pad Indicator Comes On

If you’re driving in a more modern vehicle, you’ll actually be able to keep your eye out for a more obvious sign of problems down below: an indicator light that says just that.

Vehicles released in the past few years will have a brake system warning light that will appear on your dashboard once a problem with your brakes is detected.

This isn’t a totally foolproof system. You can still have problems and the light may not activate. However, if it does come on it is a sure sign that you’ll want to get your vehicle checked out. 

How to Tell if You Need New Brakes

If you’re unsure whether or not your vehicle needs new brakes, there are some key signs that you can look out for. The above are key signs that something may be wrong with your car.

Need more auto advice and information? Keep scrolling our blog for more.