How to Tell It's Time to Get Your Brakes Checked In Yorkville, IL

Most people don’t think about the importance of their brakes until something happens to them. However, having a vehicle with functioning brakes is extremely important to keeping you and those in your vehicle safe. But how do you know when it’s time to check your brakes? Read on to find out more about how to tell it’s time to get your brakes checked, as well as a place near Yorkville, IL where you can get them checked.

How Often to Check Your Brakes

A good general rule of thumb when it comes to how often you should get your brakes checked is every six months, or whenever you switch your winter tires on and off. For those that use their vehicles more often, or drive in areas where you stop and start your driving and therefore wear the brake pads more than usual though, you might want to get them checked a little more often than six months.

There are, however, signs you might notice that can be a sign that it’s time to get your brakes checked. If you notice any of the following signs, we highly recommend taking your vehicle in for a brake check:

Pulling

While you’re driving or breaking, have you ever noticed your wheel being pulled left or right as though a hand had pulled on it to turn it even more than you were yourself? This can be a sign that it’s time to get your breaks checked, as a caliper might be stuck. Having a stuck caliper on one of your wheels would cause it to pull to one side, and as such, it would be time to get your vehicle tuned up. However, a stuck caliper is not the only reason a car might be pulling to the side; other reasons could be a tire that’s more worn than others or is flatter than others, an issue with your vehicle’s alignment, or even a problem with your vehicle’s suspension. Either way, this is a reason to take your vehicle in to get it a full workup so that it no longer has this issue.

Vibrations

Anyone who has experienced an anti-locking braking system knows the feeling of, when slamming hard on the brakes, the brake pedal gives a pulsing, or thrumming against your foot as the system takes hold to help you stop. However, a pulsing or vibrating feeling when normally breaking can be a sign that it’s time to get your brakes checked. The reasoning behind such a situation is likely to wear or warping to the rotors, which can be caused by driving down a steep incline, or even stopping frequently when hauling something heavy such as a trailer. Either way, if you notice this thrumming when you brake, take your vehicle in and get your breaks checked.

At Coffman GMC, we offer reliable brake service and repairs for GMC vehicles. If you’re around Aurora, IL, and want to get your brakes checked, check out Coffman GMC today!