Car Brakes – Common Signs of Problems and How You Can Maintain Them

by Tyre Fittersnottingham Tyre Fittersnottingham

Back in 2017, at least 570 road accidents were caused because of faulty brakes, resulting in 9 fatalities and approximately 129 serious injuries. Now, while most car owners around the world accept its braking system as granted, taking note of any telltale sign of a problem and keeping it in good condition can literally be that fine thin line of safety.

As a car owner, it’s part of your responsibility to check whether all its components are working fine or not, and to take it for a repair when it malfunctions. To make sure you keep any impending disaster at bay, here’s your guide to one of the most critical components of your car.

Brakes: Common issues and maintenance

Car brakes consist of multiple components. Provided your car has disc brakes (which is likely to happen as most of the modern vehicles come equipped with this system), it will consist of a brake rotor, callipers, brake pads, and various cables and electronic sensors connecting it with your car’s ECU. Any of these components can malfunction, giving you a long list of probable troubles. Let’s take a look at how you can identify what is wrong with your car.

Issues with car brakes

Almost every problem in the braking system gives a clear indication of a malfunction. You should be alert of the signs as those not only warns you against an issue but will also help you zero in on issues.

Scratching or grinding – If you notice any scratching noise while applying your car’s brakes, know that you have to take it to a brake pad replacement or a brake repair Nottingham as soon as possible. This noise happens if you have worn-out brake pads or anything sticking inside the callipers causing friction against the rotors.
Loss of resistance in brake pedals – If you notice that the brake pedals offer no resistance at all, chances are there is a fluid leak in its master cylinder or hydraulic lines. Your car’s brakes will lose its effectiveness as more and more fluids leak out.

Maintaining your car’s brakes

Basic maintenance of your car’s brakes is a relatively easy task. Let’s go through some things that you can do on your own.

Brake fluids – You should check the brake fluid level at least once every two months and flush it with a fresh batch every 25,000 miles (or 2 years, whichever comes first) to keep it in an optimum condition. The recommended type of fluid will be mentioned in your car’s owner’s manual, along with the position of the reservoir and other details.
Brake pads – Brake pads are probably the most abused part of the system. It experiences excessive wear while withstanding extreme temperature due to friction. You should check all four brake pads once every 6 months; it should be at least 3 to 5 mm thick for optimum performance.

Also, check the brake rotors for any warping or other types of distortions. If there is extensive damage, take your car to a garage to replace them.

Brake lines and master cylinder – Brake lines can form hairline cracks due to excessive pressure. Check them for any sign of leaks. Start from the joint between the master cylinder and brake lines till the callipers.

Following these tips will ensure that you face minimum trouble with your car’s braking system. For any major faults, you should take it to reliable car garages like Your Tyres & Auto Care. They offer repair packages like brake repair, exhaust service, engine diagnostics Nottingham at affordable prices.