Vehicle maintenance tips for good-working brakes
A large number of California residents rely on their vehicle to get them to their workplaces safely in all types of weather conditions. Therefore, as one of the most important components of a vehicle, the braking system should always be kept in tip-top condition. There are some tips to help motorists detect the condition of their car’s brakes and if a maintenance check or repair is necessary.
Whenever a vehicle’s brakes begin to go bad, there are certain warning signs. Motorists who ignore these signs may end up paying more in repairs later on or suffer a crash because of the inability to stop.
One of the first signs of wearing brakes is a high-sounding squeal whenever they are applied. This usually indicates that the brake pads are wearing down and should be replaced within the next few weeks. Another sign of brake pad wear is if the car does not stop as quickly as it once did or if it takes more pressure on the brake pedal to get the car to stop. Regular checks can be very helpful to those who do a lot of city driving and use their brakes frequently.
Another part of a vehicle’s braking system are the rotors, which commonly are replaced whenever they become worn out or warped. One signal for a warped rotor is when the steering wheel wobbles as the brakes are applied.
Car crashes often occur because of a failure by the driver to properly maintain the vehicle. This could be considered negligence under some circumstances and thus allow a person who is injured as a result to seek compensation from the at-fault driver.
Source: DriverSide, “Car Brakes: How Do You Know When to Change Them?”, Zach Bowman, March 21, 2016