Finding A New Car

Brakes Need Changed? 3 Signs It's Time

Your vehicle's brakes are essential in stopping your vehicle in time to avoid a collision. If your brakes are not in good shape, you could be driving a dangerous vehicle on the road and you are a danger to other motorists around you and you or anyone else in your vehicle. If you don't know that your brakes are bad or are going bad, there are some signs you can watch out for. Read on for a few of these signs.

1. Skipping When Stopping

If your vehicle stops roughly or feels like it's skipping when it attempts to stop, then it is having trouble gripping and stopping. This is a sure sign that your brakes need to be changed. When this occurs, you could have a difficult time stopping in time, and may not be able to avoid a collision. You need to stop much sooner than necessary, but this may not be an option in an emergency stop situation. Have your brakes changed so you can stop when necessary.

2. Grinding or Squealing Noises

Your brakes have a squealer in them that will make the squealing sound to indicate that your brakes are going bad. If they are making this sound, it's time to have the brake pads changed. If they are grinding, you're past the time of squealing and your brake pads and possibly your rotors need to be changed as well. The rotors are what are making the grinding sound, and your brake pads may no longer even be a part of your vehicle any longer. Have your brakes and rotors replaced before you end up with even further issues with your vehicle.

3. You Are Having Difficulty Stopping

If you are having a difficult time stopping, in that you need to stop in advance all of the time, or you feel like your feet are going to go through the floor because you're pushing the brake pedal down so far, it's time to have your brakes changed. Just as with your vehicle skipping when stopping, if you're pushing the pedal all the way down to the floor, there's a good chance you don't have much of a brake pad left and your brakes aren't able to grip in order to stop.

If you are having a difficult time stopping, your brakes need to be changed before you end up in a collision. Take your vehicle in to have the brakes replaced.