If your Brake light or ABS light turns on and stays on, there is a problem with your vehicle’s brake system. Mike’s Automotive can inspect the brake system and repair the problem. We can also inspect your brake system every 12,000 miles to make sure nothing needs to be replaced, such as the brake fluid or brake pads. Aside from the dashboard warning, here are other signs that your brakes are going bad.
Brakes That Make Noise
If your brakes constantly make noise when you slow down and stop your vehicle, they need to be looked at right away. It’s possible that they are overheating – more on that next – or that the brake pads have worn out and need to be replaced. The former will make the brakes squeal; the latter will make the brakes grind.
Brakes That Smell Hot and Squeal
If your brakes are overheating, you will smell hot odors and hear them squeal. The hot odors can smell like burning chemicals or burning material, such as carpet. We recommend that you stop driving your automobile if your brakes are overheating because when they get too hot, they will fail.
Brakes That Wobble or Vibrate
If the brakes make your car, truck, or utility vehicle wobble or vibrate when you slow down and stop, it’s definitely time for a brake inspection. This is a sign that the rotor surfaces are warped or that you have something stuck in one of the calipers. We can repair both problems.
Changes in the Brake Pedal Feel
The brake pedal should resist your foot and stop at about 1 1/2 inches from the floorboard when you use it. If it starts to feel spongy or soft, or if it sinks all the way to the floor, you may have a problem with the master cylinder or air bubbles in the brake lines.
Leaking Brown or Red Fluid
Leaking brown or red fluid on the garage floor near your tires is an indication that the brake system is leaking fluid. The most common places out of which the fluid leaks are the master cylinder and brake lines. Low brake fluid can make it difficult to stop your car.
Strange Changes in Direction
Finally, if your vehicle starts to change directions when you apply the brakes, you have a stuck caliper. The calipers usually need to be replaced every 75,000 miles.
Call Mike’s Automotive in Juliet, TN, today to schedule a brake inspection if it’s been more than 12,000 miles since you had your brakes checked.