Are you wondering if you need to have a brake repair done on your car, truck or van? The amount of time it takes for brakes to wear down depends on how you apply your brakes and the conditions in which you drive. For example, if you do a lot of in-town type driving, you will probably notice your brakes wearing out faster than if you drive mostly on the highway.
The brakes are a primary safety feature on your vehicle and should not be overlooked. If the braking system has a problem, it could end up failing while you are driving and leave you with no or little ability to stop your vehicle. Aside from the obvious danger of not being able to stop, if you prolong having your brakes replaced, you could end up with a more costly brake repair job.
The best and easiest way to know if you need new brakes is to bring your vehicle in to our shop located in Verona, New Jersey. Our technicians can check the condition of your brakes and brake lines and let you know if it’s time for replacing the brake pads.
Common Signs a Brake Job is Needed
If you notice any of the following signs, you will want to schedule an appointment with Luke’s Auto Service for a brake job:
- The Brake Warning Light is Staying Lit – If the “red” brake warning light comes on and stays on, there’s most likely a serious problem with the braking system. The first course of action is to make sure the emergency brake is off. If the emergency brake is off and the red brake warning light is still lit, schedule an appointment to have your brakes inspected as soon as possible. You may even want to have it towed to our shop.
- High-Pitched Squealing Sounds – While you are driving, if you hear a high-pitched squealing sound that goes away when you apply the brakes, you may need to have your brakes replaced.
- Noises that Sound like Scraping or Grinding – These kinds of sounds are the result of metal scraping on metal. If you hear this type of sound it means the brake pads are completely worn and are grinding away at the rotor. Schedule a brake job right away.
- It’s Hard to Push the Brake Pedal Down – This is known as “hard pedal” and is evident by the fact that you have to push really hard to apply the brakes. This could indicate an issue with the hydraulic lines, brake calipers, brake cylinders or the brake linkings. You should schedule a brake inspection and repair immediately.
- The Brakes Feel Soft When You Apply Them – This is the opposite of hard pedal. With “soft pedal,” the brakes will feel soft or spongy when you apply them. This could happen for any number of reasons, including air in the brake lines, damaged brake lines, faulty calipers, bad wheel cylinders or a worn-out master cylinder. Just like with hard pedal, you should schedule an appointment right away.
Trust Your Brake Repair to Luke’s Auto Service in Verona, NJ
If you feel uncomfortable about your brakes in any way, don’t hesitate to take action. It’s as easy as scheduling a brake inspection at our auto repair shop in Verona, NJ. During the inspection, we look at the discs for rough spots or damage, check the thickness of the brake pads, and examine the brake lines for cracking and corrosion. From there, we provide you with an estimate that identifies the work that needs to be done and the cost to complete the brake repair. We only use quality brake pads and premium rotors.
Don’t delay. Schedule an appointment with Luke’s Auto Service for a brake inspection or brake repair.