Is It Safe To Drive A Car If The Brakes Are Grinding?
Hearing a squeal or a grinding noise when you come to a complete stop can be frightening – not only for your safety, but also for your wallet. Grinding brakes are frequently a sign of a serious problem or a foreshadowing of something bad to come. Even if your vehicle’s brakes appear to be in good working order, it may not always be a good idea to allow this problem to worsen.
Driving with grinding brakes is simply not safe. Brakes are a critical component of safe driving and should not be overlooked. If your brakes start to fail:
- Don’t drive any further. As soon as it is safe to do so, come to a complete stop.
- Contact a qualified mechanic for an evaluation.
What Happens If You Drive With Worn-Out Brakes?
The problem will not go away on its own, but it will only get worse. In some cases, driving with bad brakes will only increase your repair costs because you will have to fix additional problems.
Brakes typically begin to grind or squeal as the brake pads wear down. As a result, the rotors are subjected to metal-on-metal scraping with no braking material in between. If left alone, this will continue to damage the vehicle, resulting in the cost of brake pads, rotors, and calipers – and possibly a tow job if your brakes become so bad that there is no safe stopping, rendering the vehicle immobile.
Preventative maintenance, such as replacing brake pads at the manufacturer’s recommended mileage, is an excellent way to keep rotors instead of having to replace the entire braking system at once. More information on the manufacturer’s recommendations to consider should be available in your vehicle’s manual.
If you hear grinding in the brakes even when you are not pressing the brake pedal, you should check to see if there is a foreign object in the braking system, such as gravel. Hearing the noise when you come to a complete stop or while driving could indicate a variety of problems.
How to Avoid Brake Problems
Your car’s brakes are critical, and they must function properly. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to avoid brake problems, including:
-
Identify the Warning Signs of Defective Brakes
The following are common warning signs of faulty brakes:
-
- When you press down on the brake pedal, you may hear screeching, squealing, or other strange noises.
- Brake pedal or steering wheel vibration
- The tires emit a pungent burning odor.
- The brake warning light illuminates.
- To activate the brakes, the brake pedal must be pressed down further than usual.
- If you notice any of these warning signs, seek medical attention immediately. If you go to an auto body shop, you can have your brakes evaluated as soon as possible.
-
Have the Brakes and Brake Pads Inspected Annually
Set a date and time to have your car’s brakes and brake pads inspected by a professional auto body shop at least once a year. This provides you with information about the condition of your brakes and brake pads, allowing you to address any brake issues.
-
Check the Brake Fluid Regularly
Every few months, check the brake fluid level in your car. Lines in the brake fluid reservoir indicate the “maximum” and “minimum” levels. If the brake fluid level falls below the minimum, take it to an auto body shop to ensure it can be properly refilled. You should also consult your owner’s manual to determine how frequently you should change your vehicle’s brake fluid, as the time required for a brake fluid change varies depending on the make and model of your vehicle.
If you prioritize car brake maintenance and repairs, you can avoid brake problems that lead to brake failure.
We’ve come up with some other amazing articles answering these questions! Check them out here:
- What 3 Things You Need To Know Before Getting Brake Service
- 3 Questions To Ask Before Getting Brakes Service
- How Do I Pick The Right Brake Repair Service Near Danville?
- How Do I Know If My Brakes Are Dangerously Worn?
- 11 Signs That You Might Need To Replace Your Brake Pad?
- What Are Common Brake Problems?
- How Often Should I Check The Brakes On My Tesla?
- Why Do The Brakes On A Car Suddenly Stop Working?
- How Often Should Brakes On An Electric Car Be Replaced?
Are You Looking for an Independent Auto Repair Shop You Can Trust?
If you’re considering making a change to an independent auto repair mechanic trusted by thousands of happy customers, look no further than autoTECH Blackhawk. Why? We differ from other automotive repair shops because we are a relationship shop. This means that the more of your car repair needs we support you with, the better able we are to customize our recommendations based on your driving habits and needs. Whether you want to keep the daily driver in ‘good enough’ condition, style your new car so that it’s customized just for you, maintain your favorite car in ‘like new’ condition, or even train your whole family to be more knowledgeable about cars – we partner with you to ensure that your cars meet your needs. We also offer an industry-leading 3-Year/36,000-mile warranty, so we only use Original Equipment and manufacturer-recommended products. Contact us now to book your no-contact, friendly appointment! We truly value your trust and your business, so thank you for staying local with your auto repair needs.
