Brake repair can be necessary at any point in the life of your vehicle. A brake fluid leak can leave your brakes useless, even if the brake pads and rotors are perfectly fine. While worn pads are the usual cause of brake fluid leaks, you may have a damaged brake line that causes the problem. Any fluid discovered beneath your vehicles should always be inspected further to figure out what it is and get your car the repair it needs. When your brake pedal goes farther than normal or feels spongy, or you have a squealing sound when you press your brake pedal, it's time to bring your vehicle in for brake repair to keep it safe for the road.
You Have a Brake Fluid Leak
If you continue to drive your vehicle with a brake fluid leak, you are putting yourself at risk. Once the fluid is gone, your brakes are not going to have any stopping power. When you discover a brake fluid leak, you need to bring your car in for a brake repair immediately to prevent a dangerous situation.
Squealing Brakes and Your Brake Pads
Brake pads will last anywhere from 25,000 to 65,000 miles. This makes it difficult to determine if your brakes are going to wear out soon based on mileage alone. If your brakes are squealing, this is an indication that your brake pads are wearing down beyond what is safe to drive with. If the squealing turns into a grinding noise, the brake pad has worn out too far and your brakes are no longer going to work. If you try to drive your vehicle with the metal grinding on your rotors, you can end up destroying your rotors.
Your Brake Pedal Is Spongy
If you press down on your brake pedal and it feels spongy or different, you might have air in your brake lines. You might also feel your brake pedal go farther down than normal, which is a sign it's time to bring your car in for brake repair. Your brake lines can be flushed out and checked for leaks at this time to keep your brakes in good working order.
Brake problems are common with any vehicle, and it's important to pay attention to early signs that you need new brake pads. Watch for leaks below your vehicle, and bring your vehicle to an auto shop like Furgerson's Garage for brake repair when you notice squealing or brake pedal issues.