Question:  What are the signs that I need a brake job?

Express Car Care Answer:  Signs that you need a brake job often fall into one of two categories…making noise or a pulsation in the brake pedal.  Let’s begin with the noise.

Most brake pads have an audible brake wear indicator.  This is a small piece of metal that rubs on your brake rotor when the brake pads are worn to the point they should be replaced.  The noise is a chirp or a soft squeal.  This noise gives drivers enough warning to get their brakes serviced while there is still enough brake pad left to enable them to stop safely.

Drivers who ignore the chirp find that the sound changes to a grinding noise.  This is more serious.  Grinding means that the friction material on your brake pad is worn away and the metal parts of the brake are grinding against the rotor when you press on the brakes.  Obviously, this metal-on-metal means that your brakes aren’t stopping very well.  It also means that your rotor is being damaged.  It may need to be resurfaced or even replaced.

Pedal pulsation is the other sign you might need a brake job.  When your rotor is not in perfect alignment, it pushes against the brake pads unevenly as you apply the brakes.  There could be a number of reasons for this problem.  The rotor and wheel hub may not be mating well, causing the rotor to be spinning out of vertical alignment.  This misalignment can be caused by either the rotor, the hub, or a combination of both.  If this persists, the rotor may start to wear unevenly to the point that its thickness varies, causing an even more noticeable pulsation.  This uneven mating of the brake pad and the rotor when braking means less contact and less braking power.

Either unusual brake noise or pedal pulsation are signs for drivers that there are brake problems and you might need a brake job.  If you’re experiencing either of these signs, have your brakes thoroughly inspected at Express Car Care so we can recommend any steps necessary to correct the problem.