How do you know when you need to get your brakes replaced?

There is a long list of things that you need to regularly maintain on your vehicle. However, there are times when a vehicle part gets damaged or worn out before the next service. Even if you are on top of getting your vehicle serviced, road conditions and driving habits can lead to you needing a trip to the body shop.  Your brakes are of these parts. How do you know when you need to get your brakes replaced? There are a few simple signs to look for when deciding if your brakes need to be changed.  

Signs to look for in your brakes

A good thing to remember is how often you are changing your brakes. Brake pads should be replaced every 50,000 miles. Obviously, every vehicle is different, and these indicators may not work. There are four signs to look for when driving your vehicle:

  1. Squeaking, squealing or deep grinding sounds. If you hear squeaking or squealing when the brakes are applied that is one sign of a problem. However, this noise can be normal in rainy conditions, for example. If it happens all the time, then it is a problem. A deep grinding sound means that the metal ridges are grinding on other metal parts. If this continues it can cause damage to more than the brakes.
  2. Indicator light comes on. If you have a model that has an indicator light, this is the easiest sign. A sensor on the brake pad will trigger when the brake pads get too low.
  3. Vibration in the pedal. If you feel vibration in the pedal when you press on it, this is another sign. This means your pads are too low and your vehicle is struggling to stop.
  4. Brake pad thickness. The last way to check is to see how thick your brake pads are. If they are less than 0.25 inch, it is time to get them changed.

Read more: How to Find the Source of a Leak Under Your Vehicle

Brake service at Juneks

If it’s time for your regular service, or you’ve noticed the signs above, schedule a brake service at Juneks. Our trained staff will have your brakes back to their prime performance. Our staff is experienced in Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models. Contact us to schedule your service today!