What is the easiest way to tell if the brakes are bad on your car? That is easy. When you push on the pedal, if the car doesn’t stop — you brakes are bad. In all seriousness, brakes are a very important aspect of your vehicles operation. People throw around terms like miles per gallon (mpg), horsepower (hp), cubic inch displacement (that is the number that goes with the engine like 5.0 liter or a 350), or top miles per hour (mph). These are all important specs if you are one of the elite gear heads, or just a savvy consumer in today’s economy. In reality, none of these other numbers or performance issues matters at all if you cannot stop your vehicle before hitting the car in front of you. So, how can you tell that your brakes are bad? It is easier than you may think, even for a lay person who barely knows where or how to check the oil level in the engine. In 4 quick tests (of which any one could mean you need to have your brakes checked by a qualified mechanic) you can tell if you need repairs. 1. Stopping distance. If it is taking you longer to reduce speed than it use to then it usually will mean that your brake pads are getting thinner. When this happens you will lose braking power. 2. Pedal travel. If you have to push the brake pedal further and further down to get the same results you could have a problem. In almost all newer cars, power brakes are standard equipment. They use brake fluid (a closed hydraulic system) to amplify the amount of force applied to the brake components. What does this mean to you? While you may put 10 lbs. of force on the pedal, the brake pads will exert 100 lbs of force on the rotor to stop the car. Remember in this particular case it might just be that you are low on brake fluid. This is another problem though. It is a closed system, so if you are low on fluid it is very important to look for a leak. 3. Vehicle pulls. If your car pulls to one side or the other when you apply the brakes there is a good chance that you have bad brakes. It may only be on one wheel, hence the pulling to one side but it still needs to be looked at and fixed. 4. Squealing. Brake pad manufacturers put metal tabs on the pads. These make the brake pads “idiot proof”. Once the pad has worn down to a certain point, the metal tab will rub the rotor instead of the pad. It will cause a high pitched squeal when the brakes are applied. If you hear this sound, it is time to get the brakes replaced. If you fail to do so, you will lose braking power as well as damage the brake rotor. This will hurt your wallet even more than getting the brakes fixed in the first place. The 4 simple points will tell you if it is time to get new brakes. While the article may have started with a joke, it is no laughing matter. If you have a 2000 lb vehicle traveling at 60 mph and can’t stop it, you are endangering yourself, any passengers, and any other people on the road. Get your brakes checked out by a qualified person if any of these signs appear, or if you even have a hint of suspicion. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil