Your brakes are the most effective and most important safety feature on your car. Your brakes allow you to stop your car and avoid collisions. They do this dozens of times every single time you drive anywhere. That’s why they’re so important; however, many people ignore the warning signs that they need brake repair. If your brakes fail, it could be absolutely catastrophic to you and your car. Luckily, they do not typically fail instantly. Usually, they begin with a few warning signs that can become much more pronounced if ignored.
Loud Noises
Brakes are fairly simple. When you press your brake pedal, hydraulic pumps drive fluid into the actual brakes to multiply the force of your foot and apply pressure to brake rotors. The brake pads grab the brakes and slow the rotors. This creates incredible amounts of heat and friction that eventually wear down the brake pads. To prevent you from losing stopping power, most brake pads come equipped with a material that begins to make a loud noise when your brake pads are getting low. If you apply your brakes and you hear a grinding, whining, or squealing, you need to get to a specialist in brake repair in Federal Way, WA. They can repair your pads so you don’t lose any stopping power or damage your rotors.
Mushy Pedal
A mushy brake pedal is a sure sign you need brake repair. Sometimes, only the habitual driver of the car can tell when the pedal is changing as they notice any small change within the car they regularly drive. If your brake pedal seems easier to push down, or slower to return to its normal position, then you have a problem. That typically indicates some kind of problem has occurred with the hydraulic system. The system is not maintaining the proper amount of pressure to reliably stop your car. You need to get this looked at quickly. This is especially true if you drive a stick shift, simply because the different hydraulic systems are often connected.
