Noisy brakes need to be checked sooner than later

When it comes to driving safely, it's easy to take your vehicle's ability to stop for granted -- until you really need it.

Your brakes often reveal possible serious situations when they make noise, pull, vibrate or feel soft. Addressing these symptoms promptly enhances your safety and may save time and money down the road.

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Brake Squealing: Squealing noises soon after a brake job may indicate there is a problem. You should return to the shop where the work was done as soon as possible, to have the brakes checked out by a technician.

In some instances, however, brake squealing simply indicates the pads are worn down and those squeaking wear indicators are doing their job.

The abrasive nature of many traditional brake pads against the rotor may also cause squealing. Low quality rotors could be the noise culprit, as well. Neither of these situations is ideal, but the resulting noise is more annoying than anything else.

Pulling: When your brakes are applied and the vehicle pulls to one side, it can mean a brake caliper is sticking, leaking or not sliding properly due to corrosion. This can lead to uneven brake pad and rotor wear, reducing the life of the pads and causing steering wheel vibration.

The rotor may be able to be machined smooth, but this is not a long-term fix. A corroded caliper or rotor may need to be replaced. A trained technician can assess the situation and fix it right the first time.

Soft-Pedal Feel: When air or water gets into the brake system, you may experience a soft-pedal feel. Improper bleeding and general corrosion are typically the culprits. Air in the system forces you to push harder on the brake pedal than normal to stop. Water can adversely affect caliper performance by causing brake fluid to boil prematurely. This can result in a significant loss of stopping power. It is best to have the brake fluid changed as recommended.

You can learn a lot by paying attention to what your brakes have to say. It can be a key to being both safe on the road -- and with your money. For more information on brakes, visit the brake experts at www.raybestos.com.