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Brake Service Vs Replacement South Africa: How To Know When Your Brakes Require A Service Or Replacement

Brake Service Vs Replacement South Africa: How To Know When Your Brakes Require A Service Or Replacement

When you are driving in bumper to bumper traffic, or driving long distance, you may need to stop immediately, whether for a car in front of you in traffic, or a heavy truck on that long-distance journey. When your brakes don’t work as they should, it may have some serious consequences. Knowing when to have your brakes checked is one aspect. The next is knowing whether they require a service or whether they need to be replaced. Once you know what needs to be done, you can make the drive to your next destination a secure and more relaxed one.

Brake Service South Africa: How To Know When Your Brakes Require A Service

As part of our brake maintenance services, upon your arrival at Astro Brake & Clutch, we inspect your brake discs and brake pads to determine the extent of any wear and tear. The brake discs are checked for their minimum specification and smooth, even surface. The brake pads need to have a specific amount of space between them and the disc. This spacing increases over time as the brake pads become worn. Once we have checked the brake pads and discs we then proceed with the brake repairs or brake maintenance services.

We also check your back wheels’ drum brake system. Drum brake systems work on the premise of using friction to stop your car. But it uses different components: a drum (instead of a disc) and a component called a shoe (instead of a pad). When you step on your brake pedal, the shoe expands outwards to stop the drum from rotating. Whereas the pad presses inwards against the brake disc.

But even if your car has the newer system of brake discs and brake pads for both the front and back wheels, you will still be catered for.

Warning signs that your brakes require attention:

  • Grinding Sound – This indicates the possibility of warn brake pads or linings. Get it checked immediately.
  • Warning Light – Your brakes could be near total failure. If your car is displaying this warning sign, get it checked immediately.
  • Spongy Pedal – If your brake pedal feels spongy after heavy use, this could indicate moisture in the brake fluid.
  • Pulsating Brake – This indicates that the brake discs/drums are out of alignment, which can lead to increased wear in the braking system & uneven tyre wear.

Brake Replacement South Africa: How To Know When Your Brakes Require Replacement

Signs That Indicate That You Need to Change Your Car’s Brakes

  1. Brake Warning Light – If your brake warning light comes on, your brakes could be near total failure. If your car is displaying this warning sign, get it checked immediately.
  2. Vibrating Steering Wheel / Wheel Rattle – This is described as a vibration in the pedal, steering or entire vehicle when you apply the brakes. This can indicate problems with the brake drum or disc, a faulty steering mechanism, or other loose component. These conditions all affect the handling of your vehicle.
  3. Sticking Brake Pedal – If your pedal fails to release, this may indicate a faulty master cylinder. If it is left too long, this condition causes serious damage, requiring expensive repairs. This can lead to total brake failure.
  4. Spongy Brake Pedal – If your pedal fails to release, this may indicate a faulty master cylinder. If it is left too long, this condition causes serious damage, requiring expensive repairs. This can lead to total brake failure.
  5. Noisy Brake Pedal – Noisy brakes indicate the possibility of worn brake pads or linings. Squeaking brakes could be due to glazed brakes, an uneven brake surface or if the disc has a lip on the outer circumference of the disc. If your car is displaying this warning sign, get it checked immediately.
  6. Low Brake Pedal – If your brakes do not activate until the brake pedal is almost touching the floor then there could be a brake fluid leak, faulty hydraulics or a low brake lining. A quick check-up will soon identify the problem. You need your brakes to respond quickly in an emergency, so do not ignore this problem.
  7. Hard Brake Pedal – If extreme foot pressure is required to depress your brake pedal, get your brakes checked immediately. The underlying cause could be with the hydraulics, or possibly restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or wheel cylinders, or damaged brake linings. All of these problems demand immediate attention to ensure that your brakes continue to function effectively.
  8. Car Veers When Braking – If your car veers or pulls to one side when you apply the brakes, there could be a brake issue.

Being aware of what to look out for when it comes to your brakes, will provide you with the basic knowledge to know when you need to book an assessment of your brakes.

To find out more about brake skimming vs brake replacement, click here.

Click here to get a free brake assessment and a quote to service or replace your brakes!

Source credits:

https://www.safetybrakeandclutch.co.za/brake-repair/

All opinions expressed in this article are not the onus of the publisher nor supplier.

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