My car brakes poorly: how to easily tell whether the brakes need a check-up

Of all the active safety systems a car has, the brakes are perhaps the most important. This is because they are the ones that prevent rear-end collisions and crashes with other vehicles, as well as allowing the car to slow down and even stop when necessary. But, like all the mechanical parts of a car, brakes wear out and lose effectiveness.

One important issue with brakes is that the foot adapts to how the pedal behaves, so we normally don’t notice that we need to press harder to brake. This is easy to observe if you get into a different car from the one you normally drive. You will soon notice that the feel and behaviour of the pedals are different, and you will detect whether you need to apply more force when braking or pressing the clutch.

But, fortunately, even though we cannot perceive this irregular behaviour in our own car, because we get used to it, there are other ways to identify a malfunction in our car’s brakes. Here are some clues so that you can think about having the brakes checked and replacing the parts that are no longer efficient.

Increase in braking distance

The braking distance is the distance the car needs from the moment the brake is pressed until it stops. If the braking distance increases, it is a sign that the car is not braking normally and the braking system needs a thorough inspection. It may be that the brake pads have worn down or the brake discs. If you notice that the car needs more metres to stop, take it to the workshop and have a mechanic inspect it.

Checking the brake fluid

Under normal conditions, the brake fluid reservoir should always be full up to the maximum mark. If you notice that the level drops quickly or reaches the minimum level, it is a sign that something is not working properly and the car must go to the workshop immediately. The brake fluid should be changed every 2 or 4 years to keep its full effectiveness, so within that period take the car to the workshop for brake maintenance.

Strange behaviour of the brake pedal

We have already mentioned that sometimes we are not aware that the brake pedal is working in a “strange” way and not responding properly. But sometimes it is easy to notice, and at any unusual behaviour you should go to the workshop and have it checked. It is better to have an inspection from time to time than to face a brake failure at a critical moment.

Vibrations, strange noises and irregular behaviour

The presence of vibrations when braking, a metallic sound when the brake is pressed, or any other unusual behaviour may be a sign that the brakes are not working correctly. In addition, brake pads usually have a “wear indicator” that emits a clearly audible metallic sound warning that they are wearing down. If you start to hear that sound, it is time to replace the brake pads and, while you are at it, check the rest of the braking system.