Signs Your Car Needs an Immediate Brake System Check

From a Soft Brake Pedal to Sounds of Grinding or Noticeable Vibration

Nobody likes to think about having a complete brake job down on their car, truck, or SUV. But what is even less pleasant to consider is a situation where your car brakes fail while you drive.
What are the symptoms of brake failure? They can differ, depending on the type of brake system you have. As you read them, understand that you don't win a prize if you wait until your brakes display all the signs of failure before you do something about them. Get them at least properly checked when you see the first symptom.

Signs of auto brake problems include:

• The brake pedal just keeps dropping lower which is a good sign that there is less there to offer resistance.   
• The brake pedal feels very soft or spongy or requires you to pump it
• It takes longer to get a response from the brakes (a bad sign if there ever is one)
• Serious noise when you apply your brakes
• Perceptible vibration as you apply the brake pedal
• Grabbing or pulling as you push the brake pedal

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should get your car, truck, or SUV to a qualified garage or trusted independent mechanic as soon as possible. Do not delay this because none of these symptoms is apt to improve miraculously on their own. If anything, such problems will get worse; some of them will worsen quickly.

Yet none of these symptoms, either singly or in groups, necessarily means your complete brake system is about to fail. Instead, just one or two components within the brake system may need repair or replacement. This is something best evaluated by a professional mechanic rather than a weekend amateur.