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There are several components on your vehicle that forbid you from driving when they wear out.  Your brakes are not one of those components. Unfortunately, brakes can function far beyond the point of safety and performance. STOP and think about how many times a day you put your foot on the brake pedal.  Your braking system is responsible for bringing thousands of pounds of metal, plastic and of course, people to a safe stop hundreds of times in a single day.  But how do you know when it’s time to repair or replace your brakes?

Neglecting your braking system can lead to a substantial  increase in brake repair cost, or worse, no brakes at all. Fortunately, there are some simple ways utilizing your ears and your feet that will keep you from crashing through your garage door or into the cars in front of you.

Depending on what type of symptoms you are experiencing, it can be fairly easy for you to decide whether you need brake repair because something  is seriously wrong or if perhaps it's something that you can disregard. Here are explanations of the most common brake problems and what to pay attention to:

• LOW BRAKE FLUID: This can be caused by worn out disc brake pads. It can also be an indicator that you are leaking brake fluid. If the BRAKE WARNING LIGHT is on, You likely have a leak. Brake fluid leaks are not something to take lightly as they can cause brake failure.  You need to have your entire brake system inspected IMMEDIATELY and any defective component replaced.
• SPONGY OR SOFT BRAKE PEDAL: When sitting at a stop light with your foot on the brake, does the brake pedal feel SPONGY?  If so, you likely have air in your brakes lines. This is typically caused by fluid loss, very low fluid level or improper brake bleeding.  The fix is bleeding the entire brake system. You may also have a defective rubber brake hose that expands and contracts when you apply the brakes. If so, the hose must be replaced.
• BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR BOARD: Does the pedal remain firm when you apply consistent pressure or does it slowly move toward the floor board?  If the pedal sinks, You may have a defective master cylinder. The master cylinder is not holding pressure. This problem needs immediate attention as it can cause brake failure.
• ABNORMAL BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL: While driving, pay attention to how much effort is needed to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.  Once the vehicle comes to a stop, the pedal should be at least 1 to 2 inches from the floor board.  If it takes any abnormal amount of effort to stop the vehicle, the cause could be several things: worn brake shoes or pads, misadjusted drum brakes, air in the lines or even a defective power booster. Get this issue checked ASAP. You don't ever want to run out of brake travel before you get the car completely stopped
• LOW BRAKE PEDAL: If you  get the feeling that your brake are too low when stopping, pump the brake pedal a few times as you are driving.  If pumping the brakes makes the vehicle stop with the pedal in a higher position, Then you either need more brake fluid or a brake adjustment. If you have rear drum brakes, the adjusters might be rusted and may be sticking and therefore not allowing the brakes shoes to adjust to normal lining wear.  The adjusters may need to be cleaned and/or replaced.
• PULSATING BRAKE PEDAL:  A pulsating, shuddering or vibrating brake pedal usually is caused by excessive lateral run-out, which can happen because your brakes are overheating from overuse. Your brake rotors may be warped and likely need to be resurfaced and in extreme cases replaced.  Rotor can warp when they are overheated from frequent braking (riding the brakes) or excessive force due to hard or sudden braking.
• SCRAPING OR GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING:  A scraping or grinding noise usually indicates a serious problem like metal-to-metal contact due to worn out brake pads or shoes.  Get this checked as soon as possible or you may be buying new disk brake rotors or new brake drums. Neither of which are cheap.
• SQUEALING BRAKE NOISE WHEN BRAKING:  Many brakes squeal occasionally, and this may not be a sign of a significant problem.  Squealing or squeaking brakes occurs because of the pressure of the brake pads against the rotor and is probably normal. The squealing is a high-pitched noise usually caused by vibration.  Squealing can occur when the brake linings are worn out, the brake drums or discs are "glazed" from overheating  as a result of "riding the brakes", the front disc brake pads are loose or missing their anti-rattle clips and/or shims  possibly, the hardware that attaches the brake calipers is worn.
• BRAKES THAT GRAB: If your brake pads or shoes get grease, oil or brake fluid on them it will cause the brakes to grab. You will feel a jerking sensation when braking. You must first determine the source of the contamination.  You may have a oil or grease leak near the brakes or possibly a leaking brake caliper. Uneven or scored drums or rotors can also cause this grabbing sensation.
• PULL TO ONE SIDE WHEN BRAKING: If your vehicle pulls left or right when you apply the brakes, you have what is referred to as uneven braking. One brake is not functioning properly. Your vehicle will pull to the side of the brake that is working properly.  You may have a caliper that is stuck, brake line blockage leading to a front caliper or some sort of contaminant on the brake pads on one side. You may also want to check your wheel bearings to be sure this isn't the problem.
• HARD BRAKING: This can be the result of a leaking vacuum hose leading to the brake booster or possibly a defective brake booster itself.  The brake boosteruses vacuum from the engine to multiply the force that your foot applies to the master cylinder thus making braking easier.  You can check the functionality of your brake booster by turning off you engine and pumping the brake pedal several times which will bleed off any vacuum in the booster. Hold the pedal down and start the engine.  If the pedal depresses slightly and the amount of effort needed to hold the pedal drops, the brake booster is functioning as intended.
• Brake Chatter or Clatter:  Brake chatter or clatter is common and they may not be a sign of a significant problem. Chatter occurs when your brakes seem to grab with a slight vibration at low speed. This can happen even with well maintained pads and can often be ignored if it doesn’t happen all the time. Clatter is usually caused by the brake pads moving slightly within the caliper, and probably isn’t a sign of a serious brake issue. if these symptoms become more frequent over time, it would be wise to have a repair shop check your vehicle’s brakes to be sure that they are properly adjusted and aren’t becoming worn.

At Texas Tire Sales in Weatherford Texas, We offer FREE Brake Inspections. If you are experiencing any of the problems listed above, bring your vehicle to either of our locations and our repair technicians will thoroughly check your braking system  to determine if you have a problem that needs attention.  We will provide you with a FREE quote for any repairs that are necessary. We offer brake specials, brake coupons on a regular basis. Click Here for our monthly promotions.