Brake Noises: Grinds, Squeals, Groans, Hard Brake, Soft Brake-What Do They Mean?

Your brakes are more than just brake pads-they are your safety system when you drive. Just like making sure you are strapped in on a roller coaster ride, you want to make sure your brakes are functioning properly. The following is a guide to symptoms and possible causes of common brake problems, all of which can be repaired and fixed, to keep you driving safely on the road:

Hard Pedal
Requires extreme pressure to make brake function. Can indicate power brake trouble, restricted hydraulic lines, frozen calipers or wheel cylinders, or damaged brake linings.
Low Pedal
Pedal nearly touches floorboard before brakes function. May activate your brake warning light. Problems may require a simple adjustment, possible air in the brake fluid lines (requiring flush procedure) or leaks in the brake hydraulic system. Needs to be checked.
Pull
Car pulls to one side when brakes are applied. May be an under inflated tire, misadjusted brakes or brakes are in need of repair.
Grabs
"Touchy" brakes that grab with the least pressure. May indicate a problem as simple as grease or oil contaminated lining - or  a loose or broken component in the system
 Squeal
Brakes should operate with a minimal amount of noise. Some noise is normal but excessive squeal, screech, grinding, groaning, chatter, clatter or bang means your brakes need attention.
Vibration
Brake pedal, steering wheel or entire vehicle shakes, vibrates or pulsates when brake is applied. May indicate need to resurface disc brake rotors - or signal a loose component in the steering or , suspension system, or a tire related issue. This needs to be checked.
Drag
Sticking brakes, hot wheels or engine that seems to have lost power. Brakes may be failing to release; the condition can reverse itself, leaving you with no brakes at all.
Brake Light Is On
Emergency brake is on, low brake fluid, a serious drop in hydraulic pressure, or one of the brake sensors is malfunctioning. Your brakes may be need to be checked.

At Hillside Tire and Service, we are your brake experts for all makes and models. Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper, and we will check your Braking System-at no charge! Get to know us, like Bill Gephardt does,  through our auto repair service specials (see coupons). See us also for tires (we have tire discounts from manufacturer factory rebate specials going on right now), alignments, oil changes, inspections, emissions, and complete auto repair services.