August was National Brake Safety month, and while we’re a little late, it’s always a good time to make sure your brakes are operation and can get you where you need to go. With back-to-school and the colder season gearing up, having functional brakes is crucial to keeping you, your family, friends, pets and other passengers safe on the road. Not only do functioning brakes keep you safe, but they keep other people on the road safe as well.
Our team here at Beeltesmith’s Valley Auto Service in Renton offers comprehensive brake checks to make sure that every part of your braking system, from your calipers and cylinders to your brake line and hoses, are capable of keeping you safe on the road this fall. We check brake fluid too!
In honor of National Brake Safety Month here are some tell-tale signs that it’s time to bring your vehicle in to Beetlesmith’s for a brake check:
Warning Lights: One of the easiest ways to tell that your brakes need servicing is if your warning light indicator on your dashboard illuminates. As we discussed on our blog around Figuring Out What Your Dashboard Lights Mean, a brake light will typically be red and say BRAKE. In short, it’s pretty straight forward. An indicator light going off usually points to an assortment of possible issues like issues with your ABS, parking brake problems, or low fluid levels.
Pulling
Have you ever started braking and suddenly felt your care veering slightly to the left or the right? There are a number of possible issues that could cause this. Regardless, pulling or veering while braking can create incredible dangerous situations on the road, so it’s a good idea to get to an auto body shop or get a tow as soon as possible.
Grinding
Grinding sound coming from your car mean there’s something most definitely (and possibly seriously) wrong with your brakes. The severity of what could be wrong can vary widely, so it’s best to pull off to the side of the road and call fora a tow to your local mechanic, just to be safe.
Squeals, squeaks, and scratches (oh my!):
When you brake, do you hear squeaking noises? If so, it’s probably time to replace your brake pads. When pads wear down, mental can rub up against metal, creating that awful sound.
Soft Pedal
In most modern vehicles, you can feel your brakes engaging as your step on the brake pedal. Sometimes, when there are issues with your cylinder, brake fluid, or brake lines, your brakes can lose that firm feeling and instead feel “spongy” or soft.
If you’re having any issues with your braking system, give Beeltesmith’s Valley Auto Repair a call today!
