Three Performance Symptoms That Indicate the Need for Brakes Repair in White Bear Lake, MN

by | Jul 18, 2017 | Autos Repair

The braking system is one of the essential safety components of vehicles. Without brakes, it would be nearly impossible to drive without significant risk of a collision. Vehicle owners commonly take the system for granted until it starts malfunctioning and they need brakes repair in White Bear Lake MN. Noise when braking is a common problem because it indicates the need for repair. Other symptoms actually affect the performance of the system.

Pulsing Pedal

When the brake pedal pulses as it’s pushed down, this usually indicates warped rotors. The pedal should move smoothly under the foot, bringing the vehicle to a sudden stop if necessary. That’s not possible when the rotors are warped badly enough to cause this symptom.

The pulsating action will quickly get worse, so the vehicle should be taken in for Brakes Repair in White Bear Lake MN as soon as possible. Otherwise, drivers soon find that they can’t really stop the car at all. They can only slow it down and must plan their braking action well ahead of a stop sign, traffic light, or intersection.

Spongy Pedal

A pedal that feels spongy when it’s pushed down usually indicates air in the brake lines. A mechanic may be able to resolve the problem by bleeding air from the lines, but there may be a leak or another issue with the master cylinder. That component holds the brake fluid, which must be kept at an optimum level for the brakes to function properly and avoid air in the hydraulic system.

Antilock Malfunction

Younger drivers may have never operated a vehicle without antilock brakes, which were first only available as options in certain luxury cars. New drivers had to learn to pump brakes in slippery conditions to prevent them from locking up.

Nearly all of today’s cars and pickup trucks have the feature. If it malfunctions, the brakes will still work, but they won’t operate as intended on slippery roads. A driver who has no familiarity with the concept of pumping the pedal to prevent skidding is at increased risk of an accident. This problem can be fixed at an auto repair shop such as American Imports.

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