The majority of BMW owners know just how important good brakes are. Without them, a car can’t stop, and this could put the driver of the car, and his passengers in great danger. Once the brakes on a BMW fail, there is no hope of driving it to a shop to be repaired. Instead, it must be towed, costing the owner time and additional money. That doesn’t have to happen though. By looking for the tell-tale signs that indicate the brakes are about to fail, drivers can repair these BMW parts quickly and reduce the time they spend off the road.
The majority of BMW owners know just how important good brakes are. Without them, a car can’t stop, and this could put the driver of the car, and his passengers in great danger. Once the brakes on a BMW fail, there is no hope of driving it to a shop to be repaired. Instead, it must be towed, costing the owner time and additional money. That doesn’t have to happen though. By looking for the tell-tale signs that indicate the brakes are about to fail, drivers can repair these BMW parts quickly and reduce the time they spend off the road.
Signs of Brake Failure
So, what are the tell-tale signs you should always be on the lookout for?
- Steady Low or High Pitched Noise- Brake pads are essential car parts in that their thickness creates a friction that helps bring your BMW to a stop. Over time, however, these pads can become worn down from constant use. Luckily, they are equipped with a small metal tab that is designed to warn the owner of the car when the brake pads have become too worn to function correctly. When the tab is not long held away from the disc, it touches it and creates an annoying, but effective low or high pitched noise. The squeak may at first occur intermittently, but it will eventually become a continuous sound as the problem becomes worse.
- Squeaking Upon Applying the Brakes- When these BMW parts squeak, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem. If you apply the brakes and hear squeaking once or even twice, it could meal that there are simply small pieces of debris between the hub and the brake shoes. If the problem last for a while, however, it could mean that the brake pads have worn down and the bolts that hold them in place are rubbing against the hub or disc. The repair can be very costly if you wait too long, so have it checked as quickly as possible.
- Grinding Sounds- When you hear these BMW parts grinding, it is cause for alarm. Grinding sounds often indicate that the brakes have worn down so much that pieces of the braking equipment are touching other pieces. Because most of the braking system isn’t designed to do this, the results can quickly become catastrophic.
- A Shuddering Car- This tell-tale sign can’t be missed; when you apply the brakes on your BMW and the entire vehicle shakes and shudders, it indicates there is a serious problem with your braking car parts. Get the BMW to the repair shop as soon as possible. There could be several problems causing the vibrations, and none of them end well for your brakes if they aren’t attended to.
- The Brake Pedal Requires Too Much Pressure- If you’re driving along and need to come to a stop, you should not have to press the brake all the way to the floor in order to come to a complete stop. If this is the case, the problem is most likely a leak or low brake fluid.
The brakes on your BMW are essential car parts you can’t ignore. Take care of them and understand what they are trying to tell you with these tell-tale signs.
