Brake Safety: What Every Car Owner Should Know

Your brakes are the single most important safety system on your vehicle. Here's what to look out for.

Squealing when braking is often the wear indicator on your brake pads making contact with the disc - it's designed to warn you they need replacing.

Grinding or metal-on-metal sounds mean the pads are worn through and the metal backing plate is contacting the disc. This requires immediate attention and will result in disc damage if left.

The vehicle pulling to one side when braking often indicates a seized calliper or uneven pad wear.

A soft or spongy brake pedal can indicate air in the brake fluid or a leak in the hydraulic system. Both require prompt investigation.

Vibration through the pedal when braking typically means warped brake discs.

If you notice any of these symptoms, book your vehicle in as soon as possible. Brake repairs carried out early are almost always significantly cheaper than leaving them until the damage has progressed.