What Causes Your Car Brakes to Malfunction?

January 25, 2018

Every car has a break system that decelerates its speed and brings it to a full stop. It’s one of the most important mechanisms in a vehicle, and yet car owners have the tendency to often overlook its maintenance. Car brakes require maintenance and should be checked for problems every at least every 6 months, if not, problems will develop such as the following:

• Difficulty bringing your car to a full stop
• Squeaking, clicking, or grinding noises when stepping on the brake
• Too much drag when accelerating
• Brake pedal pulsates when braking
• Car pulls or grabs to one side after breaking

The cause of these problems are attributed to the following:

1. Noisy brakes are often caused by brake pads being worn or glazed. Worn brake pads cause wear indicators to come into direct contact with the brake rotor – which shouldn’t be the case. The friction will then result in a high-pitched squealing noise, or something that sounds more like grinding machinery when the brakes are applied.
2. Clicking noises are caused by loose or damaged disc brakes. Disc brakes are steel springs that are placed against brake rotors and held together by calipers. These devices are designed to prevent brake pedals from rattling, which is why they make clicking noises once compromised.
3. Poor braking may be caused by one of many reasons. It could be that the brake pads have become “crystallized” and hardened by heat, or they might have been overused. The brake drums or rotors may have worn out from overheating. Oil or grease might have gotten into your brake system. It is also possible that the power brake booster has become ineffective, leading to the loss of power assist and thus, difficulty braking.
4. Cars that pull or grab to one side when braking usually have a leakage (i.e. brake fluid, oil, grease), maladjusted, or broken brakes. Meanwhile, cars that drag during acceleration usually have rusted brake cables that do not release properly.
5. Pulsating brake pedals are simply caused by normal wear and tear. The brake rotor or drum will eventually thin out and become warped from constant use and exposure to heat.

If you are experiencing any of these problems listed above, then it is time to schedule a visit with a trusted mechanic. Thankfully, you can always avoid problems developing with brakes by taking your vehicle in for regular maintenance at Tempe Mechanical and Smash Repairs.

Optimized by NetwizardSEO.com.au