Brake Repair

If someone points out that your brake pads are worn, note that. First, you can check your car's brake condition by opening the hood and looking at the brake fluid level; if it's low, you need to find out why. Also, if your vehicle's brakes feel weaker, its stopping distance should be noticeably longer. Notice these symptoms and consider taking your car to an auto shop.

If your car pulls to one side after you apply the brakes, get it to an auto shop quickly. This symptom is severe and might also follow up with a smell of burning coming from the wheels. Sometimes, a wheel might skid or slide when running on wet, gravel, or loose surfaces.

A sensor in the brake pedal captures motion, informing the computer whenever the driver presses the brakes. This sensor also reads movement intensity, differentiating sudden emergency stops from regular ones. Additionally, this system comprises a backup sensor that compares readings with the original one, ensuring that they agree.

So, if a sensor fails, the backup takes over, preventing the brakes from dying. However, if both fail, your brakes might lock up. Plus, if the backup sensor doesn't agree with the original, a slight braking pressure might incorrectly be read as an emergency stop, locking up the brakes.

If you notice brake locking, red brake warnings, less-sensitive brake pedals, and check engine light on the dashboard, share these symptoms with the auto shop. These are critical indicators that they need to know.

Sometimes, a car can have partially-applied drum brakes and a sticking caliper. As a result, the car lightly brakes even if you're not pressing the brake pedal.

The ABS module is the car's computer that controls the anti-lock braking system. It gets power when the driver turns on the ignition; it also gets info from sensors around the vehicle to know if a wheel is about to lock up or lose traction.

If this module detects a wheel close to locking or losing traction, it activates the anti-lock brakes. Note that this process happens much faster than you could react. It's like a light-fast driver assistant, helping the car maintain control of urgent brakes.

If you notice brakes locking up, an inoperative speedometer, steering wheel buttons failure, and an airbag light on the dashboard share these symptoms with the auto shop.