Know These 4 Common Brake Problems

January 15, 2022

If you're reading this, you might be concerned about your brakes. Faulty brakes can lead to accidents and dangerous situations and can usually be avoided with routine maintenance and a driver that pays attention to their vehicle. 

Here are the most common brake problems to watch out for so you know what to do:

1. Weird noises coming from your brakes - if you hear a metal-on-metal grinding sound, squealing or squeaking when braking, or any other unusual sound - it's time to check out your brakes. And right away.
2. Car pulling to one side - this common issue can happen if your wheels are misaligned (you can ask your mechanic to check for alignment), or if you have a seized caliper, which applies uneven pressure on your brakes.
3. A soft or mushy brake pedal, or any other change to your usual braking experience indicates a problem. This is usually connected with loss of hydraulic brake fluid which amplifies your brake push and turns it into stopping pressure. You can also experience a soft brake pedal if there is an issue with your master cylinder, the place where the hydraulic fluid is actually compressed into pressure.
4. A shaking or vibrating steering wheel when braking happens when your brake rotor is uneven.

Brake pad problems

Some brake problems are caused only by bad brake pads or only by an issue with brake rotors. It's helpful to know the distinction so you know what needs to be fixed. 

Metal-on-metal grinding means your brake pads have worn down completely, causing their metal part to touch the brake rotor directly. This is very bad for your braking performance and can even result in brake failure—get new brake pads immediately. Worn-out brake pads are also behind the squealing or squeaking sound you often hear when cars are coming to a halt at a red light. 

Brake rotor issues

You can experience vibration sensations when braking if your brake rotor surface has become damaged or warped because of the excessive heat generated around the brakes, or any other damage. The brake rotor surface must be smooth for a normal braking experience. You can get the rotors resurfaced or replace them with new ones.

Note: if you are burning through brakes like there is no tomorrow, you may need a different set that matches your vehicle's performance or your lifestyle. For example, drivers with sports vehicles often benefit from drilled and slotted rotors that let excessive heat escape. These can be installed on your vehicle too if you enjoy driving fast and braking abruptly.