Obviously, your brakes are essential. However, it’s easy to neglect or ignore brake issues, and even miss them altogether; as long as the car, truck, or SUV still stops, many people don’t see the need to have their brakes serviced. From Harold's Used Auto Parts Inc in Philadelphia, here are some common brake issues, and why you should fix them.

The main components of any brake system are rotors, pads, calipers, lines, hoses, and hydraulic cylinders. This setup differentiates a little depending on what you drive, but the theory is the same on all cars, trucks, and SUVs. Pressure from the pedal is applied to the brake pads, which apply friction to a component attached to the wheel, slowing the vehicle down. If one or more of these parts fail, issues range from generally unpleasant sounds to total braking failure.

Bad brake pads will grind against the rotor whenever the pedal is depressed, or continuously if they are jammed or broken. Bad calipers can stick or hang up, heating up the brake pads and producing an unpleasant scent, and grinding noises similar to bad brake pads. Warped rotors cause pulsating when the pedal is depressed, or rhythmic sounds that correlate to wheel speed. Collapsed hoses can cause calipers to stick, producing the same symptoms as a bad caliper. A failing master cylinder will cause spongy and inefficient braking, and in some cases will result in complete braking failure.

While all of these components produce different symptoms, they affect one another as well. Since these parts work so closely together, a failure with one means imminent failure in others. For example, bad brake pads will destroy a rotor, and malfunctioning calipers can destroy both, in addition to overheating surrounding components. A bad caliper that is neglected may cause lugnuts to fail, braking components on other wheels to work ineffectively, or wheel bearings to be destroyed. With brake issues, what was once a simple fix can turn into a laundry list of problems in no time.

If your brakes need attention, whether they’ve been experiencing problems or it’s simply time to have them serviced, our technicians have you covered. For all your maintenance and repair needs, and for the best auto service shop in Philadelphia, call or stop by Harold's Used Auto Parts Inc today.