Your brakes talk before they fail. A plain-English guide to squeals, grinding, pulsing pedals and soft pedals.
Brakes almost always give you a warning before they become a serious problem. The trick is knowing what each sound and feeling means. Here's a plain-English guide from Walnut Smog & Repair in Pasadena.
Many brake pads have a small metal tab called a wear indicator. When the pad wears down to a certain thickness, the tab touches the rotor and squeals. It's designed to be annoying so you'll get it checked. A squeal can also come from glazed pads, missing anti-squeal shims, or dust. If it's constant, get the pads measured.
Grinding usually means the pad material is gone and metal is rubbing on metal. That damages rotors quickly, and a job that could have been pads alone becomes pads and rotors, sometimes calipers too. Grinding can also come from a small stone stuck between the rotor and the dust shield. Either way, don't wait.
If the pedal pulses or the steering wheel shakes when you brake, especially from freeway speed, the rotors may have uneven thickness or pad material deposits. People call this "warped rotors." Long downhill runs, like coming down from Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge or the Angeles Crest, build up a lot of heat and are a common trigger. Resurfacing or replacing the rotors usually fixes it.
This one is serious. A pedal that feels spongy, goes closer to the floor than it used to, or slowly sinks while you hold it at a light can mean air in the lines, a fluid leak or a failing master cylinder. Brake fluid that's old and heat-soaked can also boil on a long descent and cause a soft pedal. Get it checked right away.
If the car pulls left or right when you brake, one side may be braking harder than the other. A seized caliper slide pin, a stuck piston, a collapsed brake hose or contaminated pads can all cause it. Pulling that happens all the time, not just when braking, is more likely a suspension or alignment issue.
A sharp, hot smell after normal driving can mean a caliper is sticking and the pads are dragging. You may notice one wheel is much hotter or dirtier with brake dust than the others.
The red brake light can mean the parking brake is on, the fluid is low, or there's a hydraulic problem. The ABS light means the anti-lock system has a fault. The normal brakes usually still work, but the anti-lock function may not. Both deserve a look.
A quick look at every oil change is a good habit. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, so many manufacturers recommend replacing it every two to three years.
At Walnut Smog & Repair, we measure, show you what we find, and quote the work before we start. If your pads have life left, we tell you. See our brake repair page, call (626) 449-6252, or stop by 1323 E Walnut St #2.
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