Noticing an Issue with the Brake System

Windshields Should be Cleared in the Winter
March 1, 2018
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Noticing an Issue with the Brake System





If you start to hear odd noises with your brakes, make sure to try and identify the sound you are hearing when it does it. A grinding noise on braking is usually caused by a lack of brake pad material; the pads and rotors are now metal to metal, with no braking material left. If this noise is present, make sure to schedule an appointment so we can inspect it for you.




Many cars have drum brakes in back, where a shoe stops the car by pressing on the inside of a metal drum. Brake drums, like rotors, get resurfaced once in a while. The cutting bit on the brake lathe removes the old braking surface and leaves a nice new mating surface. When the brake shoes ride on the new surface, they will follow the groove like the needle of your record player follows a track. If the groove is interrupted, the shoes snap back, hitting the backing plate. This happens very quickly, causing a thumping noise that will notice.




The most common brake squeak is caused by wearing pads. If your brakes are squeaking or squealing while driving down the road, but the noise goes away when you press on the brakes, your brake wear indicator is hitting the rotor and causing the noise. The wear indicator is a small metal tab fastened to the brake pad. When the brake pads are worn down and need replacing, this metal tab starts to drag along the rotor, warning the driver of the potential problem. If you hear the noise, make sure to contact us so we can inspect and fix the brakes as soon as possible. Since the brakes are one of the most important part of the vehicle, it is important to keep them working properly. This can improve the safety when you drive.




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