You might need a brake repair without realizing it. Faulty brakes are a major cause of motor accidents. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell that you need your brakes fixed. The signs present themselves strangely. Steering wheel issues, strange smells, and unsettling noises are all signs of faulty brakes. We’ll go into depth on these issues now. We hope that we can teach you a thing or two about identifying brake faults.
The Most Obvious Sign: Your Brake Light
It can be tempting to ignore your brake light when it comes on. You may not feel that getting your brakes checked is a pressing issue; you’d know if something was actually wrong, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If your brake light comes on, take it as a sign to head to a dealership for service as soon as you can.
Less Obvious Signs That You Need a Brake Repair
1. Steering Wheel Issues
Is your steering wheel pulling to one side? If it’s not pulling to one side, is it vibrating? These are both signs that your rotor is uneven, and you need a brake repair. There’s one more sign that can be downright dangerous; if your vehicle wobbles when you use the brake pedal, consider it an emergency.
Drive to a dealership as soon as you can, or call a tow truck if you don’t feel safe enough to drive there. It’s better to be safe than sorry. A wobbly vehicle can easily cause an accident, so it really shouldn’t be on the road.
2. A Foul Smell
If a foul smell fills the cabin when you use the brake pedal, that’s a sign of overheating. This problem isn’t usually dangerous. Pull over ASAP, and let your vehicle cool down. When your vehicle is completely cool, start it back up again. You should notice that the smell is no longer an issue. Now you’re safe to drive to a dealership. Get your vehicle checked out. There may be nothing wrong, but you want to be sure of that before you start driving normally again.
3. Strange Noises
There are several sounds that indicate a brake issue. If you’re having brake troubles, you’ll typically hear a high-pitched, metallic noise when you use the brake pedal. It might take the form of a grinding sound, but it may also sound more like a shriek. Get your brakes checked out as soon as you can. It’s difficult to tell what the issue is from just the sound, but it’s definitely something you should be concerned about.
4. Spongy, Unresponsive Brakes
If your brake pedal feels spongy when used, something’s wrong. You may notice that it takes more pressure than usual to activate the brakes, too. If you experience either of these issues, get to a dealership fast. You need to get your brakes fixed before the problem gets worse; this issue could get dangerous rapidly.
If you need your brakes fixed, feel free to come and see us at Ourisman Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Alexandria. We’ll take care of your brakes, and we’ll service your entire Jeep if you need us to. Call us at 877-855-8479 to talk to our service department.
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