7 Signs You Need New Brakes

Brakes being serviced by a repair technician

Even if your car was built with all kinds of tech-savvy safety equipment, the most important one of all is the most basic: the brakes. All of the collision avoidance and warning sensors in the world can’t help you if your brakes don’t work well. Your safety and that of your passengers and others on the road depends on your brakes being at the top of their game. Let’s go over seven warning signs that your brakes need attention.

Is It Time for New Brakes?

The best rule of thumb for any potential automotive issue is this: When in doubt, get it checked out. That’s especially true when it comes to something as vital as your brakes, which can make or break road safety. So, trust your gut and take your vehicle in for a brake inspection if you suspect there may be a problem – even if something about your vehicle just feels “off.” That said, there are some common signs and symptoms that your car may exhibit when the brakes are having trouble, so make sure you’re paying attention.

  1. Brake light. This one’s a no-brainer. If your car is equipped with a brake warning light and it suddenly comes on, you should get your vehicle in for service as soon as possible. Don’t depend solely on the indicator to tell you if there’s a problem, though; it won’t detect every issue.
  2. Squealing, squeaking, or grinding. These sounds can be annoying – the metallic sound of your wear indicators, for instance – or cringe-inducing, such as the grinding sound of metal on metal. This latter means you may be doing major damage to your rotors, a bigger and costlier issue. Get to your service center right away.
  3. Vibration or shaking in the steering wheel. This could indicate warped rotors, and if that’s the case you’ll need to have them replaced or resurfaced.
  4. Leaking fluid. Brake fluid is crucial to your brake system’s ability to stop reliably on a dime. A fluid leak needs to be addressed quickly, often by replacing the master cylinder that holds the brake fluid.
  5. Soft brake pedal. If you find your foot pressing all the way to the floor when you try to brake, this is known as a soft or “squishy” brake pedal. This can pose a big hazard on the road and requires immediate attention.
  6. Burning smell. This may be a sign that your brakes are overheating, which can cause brake failure. If you see smoke, pull over and inspect your brakes before going any farther.
  7. Car pulling to one side. When your vehicle pulls to the side during braking, it could mean you have a faulty brake hose that’s causing uneven pressure. Visit your service center as soon as possible for a complete diagnosis.

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Brake Service at Lee Nissan

Let the team of automotive experts at Lee Nissan take care of all your brake issues. They will perform a thorough inspection, offer assessments you can count on, and get the work done quickly and correctly – all without overcharging! Check out the currently running service specials and then schedule service online today.

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