You don’t always need to take your car to a mechanic if you think your brakes need an inspection. Yes, it’s true that many of them offer specials where they give you a free brake inspection, but I’m sure nobody has walked away from a free inspection without spending any money. So here are some things you can do to diagnose the problem yourself and hopefully save some money.
Check the brake fluid. If your brake fluid is low, that could mean you have a leak in the braking system. If the fluid is discolored, it could be getting contaminated with moisture.
Get in the car to check. Before starting the engine, apply the brakes and then turn the key. If the pedal drops when the engine starts, that’s good. If that doesn’t happen, you could have a bad vacuum connection or a leaky booster. But if the brakes feel “soft,” meaning you have to push harder for them to take effect, you could air in your brake lines or something more serious.
Check the ABS light. When you turn your car on, your ABS light should also come on and then disappear after a few seconds. If it stays on, there’s a problem with the system. If it doesn’t come on at all, you probably have a burned out bulb.
Use the parking brake. Don’t underestimate the importance of this device. Check it every so often to make sure it’s working properly by applying it to see if it “holds” the vehicle. Try to move the vehicle with it applied, but don’t attempt to drive it because you could do serious damage.
Of course, if you do end up needing some brake work done, don’t forget about getting an honest auto estimate from us before you pay your mechanic. We’ll let you know if you’re being overcharged before you even get the work done.
Tags: brake inspections, brake problems