Cars, Caravans and Other Vehicles

Trailer Repairs: Do Your Brakes Require Servicing?

Your brakes may not be one of the attractive aspects of your vehicle but this does not diminish how crucial they are for your driving safety. Therefore, it is prudent to ensure you pay attention to any warning signs that your brakes may have become compromised. Granted, there are obvious symptoms that would draw your attention to this such as your brake light turning on or experiencing difficulty slowing down. However, these are not the only indications of an underlying problem. So what else should you be wary of that would imply your brakes require immediate servicing?

Your vehicle has started making strange noises

One thing to note about brake problems is some signs may be quite subtle. For instance, if you usually listen to blaring music in your vehicle, chances are you could miss hearing strange noises coming from the brakes. If you start to hear high-pitched squeals coming from your brakes, it probably means that the brake pads are worn out and would require replacing.

Another sound to be on the lookout for would be grinding noises. These noises come about when the callipers start to grind on the brake rotors, which also would be indicative of damaged brake pads. Not having this attended to by an auto mechanic will eventually lead to severe damage to the rotors and can be expensive to fix. Therefore, it is essential to have any unusual sounds diagnosed by a mechanic before further damages occur.

Your vehicle has started pulling

If you start to feel that your vehicle has developed a mind of its own when you are driving, the problem could lie with your brake system. Typically, this will manifest itself by your vehicle pulling to one side of the road without you trying to turn it. In this instance, the underlying issue could be callipers that are stuck. As such, there will be excessive friction occurring in some wheels, which affects your control over your vehicle.

Another reason your vehicle may start pulling to the side is if one of the brake hoses has collapsed. This causes the callipers to have uneven movements, thus affecting your entire vehicle whenever you try to apply the brakes.

It should be noted that brake repairs are not the sole cause for pulling. Thus, it is essential to take your vehicle for servicing so that a professional can diagnose the main cause in the event that the underlying problem does not stem from the braking system.


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