Acquainting yourself with the basics of your vehicle’s brake repair instructions can help you alleviate a bit of time and stress and provide you with a newfound sense of independence, which always feels good after a successful job. In this article, we will outline a few basic scenarios which you can easily address yourself.

Squealing

If your vehicle emits a squealing sound every time you press your foot to the brake pedal, it is generally an indication of issues which require immediate attention. The common cause is worn out pads. These pads must be replaced as soon as possible in order to keep you and your vehicle safe from harm. The high pitched sound you hear is actually the grinding of brake mechanism parts.

However, if your squealing tends to be a bit more muted or occurred intermittently, it be simply be a sign that your pads are surrounded by dirt and dust. This problem can easily be addressed by taking your vehicle over to your local car wash and having it cleaned throughout. Other reasons include low quality liners or worn out backing plates. Inspect your liners and backing plates and replace if necessary.

Additionally, you may want to inspect the alignment. You can generally tell if improper alignment is the cause if the squealing persists after you’ve added fluid and replaced the pads.

Wear Brakes

If the response of your system is low even when the pedal is pushed to the floor, you may be looking at low fluid amounts. Low levels of fluid can cause your stopping power to diminish, so be sure to check your levels on a regular basis. Another possibility is that your pads are simply worn out. Worn out pads can greatly impact your braking performance and should be changed regularly.

Hard Pedal

Hard pedals are quite common in older cars and trucks. This is typically caused by vacuum system leaks. These leaks result in the loss of negative pressure, and thus, the driver will end up pressing down harder in order to obtain the desired reaction from the vehicle. Another possible answer is a break in the boost. Breaks and leaks within the booster will inhibit the fluid flow and work to prevent it from accessing various parts of the system. Inspect your system for breaks and leaks and replace any broken parts you happen to find.

Intermittent Actions

If you notice a loss in power every few seconds while pressing down on the pedal, the issue may lie within the discs and pads. Inspect the condition of both the discs and pads and replace them if needed.

If you’re still looking for the answers and have come to your wit’s end, the best possible solution is to make the trip over to your local brake repair mechanic. Having the eye of an experienced brake repair specialists at your side is always beneficial and will have you back on the road in no time.