Signs Your Vehicle May Need New Brakes

Signs Your Vehicle May Need New Brakes

Maintaining your brakes may be the most important item you need to monitor during the ownership life of your vehicle. If your brakes are less than optimal, they may be placing you and your family in peril, especially when emergency stopping situations arise.

Are you starting to get nervous about how your vehicle is stopping? Below is a list of common signs you need to pay attention to when it comes to your brakes:

THE SCREECH: We have all been there. You pull up to a stoplight and the car next to you lets out a screech or squeal just before stopping. Maybe you have heard a similar squeak or two from your vehicle as well. Your brakes are telling you something. That sound is a small metal indicator alerting that they are starting to wear. While you may feel its subtle – your brakes have diminished to a point where you need to start thinking about replacements.

GRINDER: Now, if what you are hearing is more of a metallic sound, it may be your discs and calipers rubbing against each other. Repeated action of this nature can eventually scratch your rotors, resulting in an uneven braking surface. If the damage is too extensive, you may have to replace prematurely.

REDUCED RESPONSIVENESS: This can be scary. If your car simply isn’t responding to hard braking situations or if you feel your vehicle needs increased effort to stop – immediately schedule an appointment with a service advisor. Preferably, with a Hendrick Automotive Group service advisor who will assist you with your vehicle. You are putting yourself or your family at risk of causing an accident with reduced power as your brakes have worn to a point where they have likely exceeded their effectiveness.

VIBRATION UNDER BRAKING: If you are feeling a vibration or pulsating feel under normal braking – you may be experiencing warped rotors, triggered by aggressive braking over long periods where the pads are unable to apply even resistance. It also may be a sign your brakes are overheated and you need to take a few moments to let them cool. Since your car likely isn’t a Kyle Larson NASCAR Cup Series entry at Watkins Glen -- sponsored by HendrickCars.com, of course – we would recommend that you consult with a Hendrick Automotive Group service advisor to see if this could be a long-term issue.

If you have any suspicion that your brakes may be going, make sure they receive a thorough inspection. We would also encourage you to setup an inspection with a Hendrick Automotive Group service advisor, who will examine your brakes, rotors and pads to see if they need replacing.