• Squealing, grinding, screeching, or thumping sounds while braking
• Need more time/distance to stop completely
• Vehicle noticeably pulls to one side when braking
• Yellow brake fluid puddles under car
  A dashboard indicator light in some cars

The brake pads in disc brake systems are pressed by a piston that pushes the pads together inside the brake calipers onto the brake rotor (a rotating disc). The friction produced by the pads slows the rotation of the wheel. The friction they provide and the heat they produce causes wear with every application of the brake pedal. Brake pad replacement should be part of your regularly-scheduled vehicle maintenance. Brake pads are also referred to as brake shoes in drum brake systems.

Older vehicle brake systems were almost exclusively semi-metallic or asbestos pads. Most vehicles today are equipped with a brake pad made of a ceramic composite because they are less noisy compared to other brake pads.

This is the “disc” in a disc brake system connected to a vehicle’s wheel. Some of the different kinds are: blank and smooth, drilled, slotted, and drilled and slotted. Most newer passenger vehicles have blank and smooth rotors. While high-performance vehicles have slotted or drilled disc brakes.
When the brakes are pressed, the calipers squeeze the brake pads and rotors against each other. This friction causes resistance of the wheel spinning. Just like your brake pads, brake rotors get worn from heat and friction and should be regularly inspected.

When getting your brake pads replaced, a technician will “turn” or resurface your rotors if there is enough material to do so safely. This is done to avoid rotor warping and to ensure that the brake pads are making contact to stop your vehicle. If there is not enough material left on the rotor then they will recommend rotor replacement.

Brake Calipers are crucial to your braking system because they apply the pressure to the brake pads to make your wheels stop. Here’s how it works. When you step on the brakes, the brake fluid creates hydraulic pressure on pistons in the caliper. This squeezes the pads to the rotor which slows the caliper down along the wheel.
Just like other parts of a brake system, everyday use will cause wear on brake pads. When the brake pads become thinner, pistons in the brake calipers will compensate to aid the worn brake pads to reach the rotor. Brake pads can be replaced, but pistons need to be retracted back into the calipers so that the pads may be removed. A special tool is used to avoid damaging both pistons and calipers.
Book an appointment with us today for a brake inspection and we’ll talk you through what’s going on with your brake system using our Digital Vehicle Inspection Tools.

You can easily check your brake fluid yourself, but it is a highly toxic fluid and can also ruin the paint on your vehicle.

Check your owner’s manual for detailed instructions on how to check your vehicle’s brake fluid levels. In general, you’ll need to locate the brake fluid reservoir on the master cylinder. Inspect to see if the fluid appears to be dark or muddy. This indicates whether or not your fluid is dirty and losing its effectiveness. You’ll also need to check the lines on the reservoir that indicate the maximum and minimum levels of fluid. You’ll need to come for brake service if the fluid level is close to the minimum line.

From simple to urgent, a brake light may indicate any number of issues. Some of those problems might be:

The parking brake is on. Do not drive your vehicle with your parking brake on as it can add extra wear to brake linings. If you release the parking brake and the light stays on, there may be another unidentified brake issue.

Brake fluid is low. Low brake fluid will cause the light to come on. It might be possible that there is a leak in the brake system which should be taken care of immediately. Without the proper levels of brake fluid, your brakes will not be able to stop your vehicle.

Anti-lock braking issue. Older cars might have a dashboard warning light for the ABS. Some vehicles will not have this warning light and the brake light may indicate it is a problem with the ABS.

Sensor issue. Occasionally, a malfunction in the brake sensor could cause your brake light to come on.

Electrical Issue. Have your vehicle’s wiring checked.

It’s always a good idea to refer to your owner’s manual for guidance, but this may depend on your driving habits and road conditions. Driving fast and braking hard along with high mileage on a vehicle will lead to needing brake service more often.
Have your brakes regularly checked Will’s Auto Repair the next time you are in.

Will’s Auto Repair is happy to speak with you about your vehicle’s needs, but an inspection will need to be conducted in order to give an accurate estimate. We will use our Digital Vehicle Inspection System to send you pictures of the issues we find and text or email it to you.