When Your Brakes Talk, Listen for Safety

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., April 29 -- When it comes to driving safely, it is easy to take a vehicle's ability to stop for granted -- until you really need it. In observance of National Car Care Month, Akebono Corporation, North America's leading supplier of advanced brake technology, is urging all motorists to take a break for safety, particularly when your disc brakes tell you something may be wrong.

"Your brakes will often alert you when there is a problem," said Bill Hilbrandt, Akebono's vice president, research and development. "Brakes can reveal symptoms of possible future serious situations -- they make noise, pull, judder (vibration) or feel soft. Paying attention to these symptoms when they first appear improves your safety, while also saving time and money in the long run."

Every driver can optimize the continued safe stopping of their vehicle by being alert and responding to the signs when their brakes talk to them. According to the experts at Akebono, here are common symptoms and what they mean.

Brake Squealing and Groaning

Squealing noises from brakes typically take place at speeds of 5 mph or above. A brake component vibrates rapidly when the brakes are applied, resulting in the squealing sound. This most often indicates the brake pads, calipers and rotors on the vehicle are not of the highest quality match. Upgrading the brake pads to a premium product, such as Akebono's ProACT ceramic brake pads, costs a bit more up front, but provides the benefits of noise-free operation and generally longer pad life. However, the squealing noise may also indicate the brake pads are worn down and the wear indicators are doing their job, notifying the driver it is time to replace the pads.

Squealing can also result from improperly fitted brake parts. A poor interface between the brake pad, caliper and rotor can result in excessive vibration, noise and compromised braking power. Check for this condition if your brakes have recently been serviced.

Some squeals are simply caused by the abrasive nature of many traditional brake pads and their contact points with the rotor. In other situations, less expensive, non-OE specified rotors generally are not optimally designed to minimize squeals. Neither of these conditions is ideal, but the noise is more annoying than anything else. Groaning or grinding noises are types of low- frequency vibration. They can be caused by low quality or abrasive brake pads too.

Motorists can significantly reduce squealing and groaning by ensuring their vehicles are always fitted with the highest quality brake pads, calipers and rotors. This may mean using the same type fitted as original equipment or premium components offered in the aftermarket.

Pulling and Judder

When brakes are applied and the car or truck tends to pull to one side, low tire pressure may be at fault. But pulling can also result from a malfunctioning brake caliper that is sticking, leaking or not sliding properly due to corrosion.

A malfunctioning caliper can lead to uneven pad and rotor wear. While this is certain to reduce pad life, it may in turn also cause steering wheel judder or vibration. A sticking caliper or abrasive pad causes high and low spots on the rotor, causing the caliper to bounce up and down rapidly. The rotor may be able to be machined smooth, but this is not a long-term fix. A mechanic needs to identify the root cause of the situation and fix it to prevent a reoccurrence.

Soft-Pedal Feel

Soft-pedal feel most often results from improper bleeding of the brake lines, allowing air into the brake system. General corrosion caused by water can also introduce soft-pedal feel. Air in the system forces motorists to push harder on the brake pedal than normal to engage the caliper and stop the vehicle. Water in the brake lines may cause brake fluid to boil prematurely, forming gases in the lines and a loss of much of a vehicle's stopping power in heavy duty or extreme-use conditions (i.e., towing a trailer, mountain descents). The key to avoiding such situations is to change the brake fluid as recommended by the manufacturer.

                      The Symptoms of Brake Concerns
  Symptom                 Potential Causes
  Squealing / Groaning    Worn brake pads, highly abrasive pad material,
                          improperly fitted pads, non-OE rotors

  Pulling                 Low tire pressure; malfunctioning, sticking or
                          leaking brake caliper

  Soft-pedal feel         Water or air in brake lines, corrosion

  Judder (vibration)      Uneven rotor wear due to sticking caliper or
                          overly abrasive brake pad