3 Signs a Vehicle Needs a Brake Check for Those in Auto Mechanic School

Given the importance of functional brakes for a driver’s safety, brake maintenance is never something to take for granted. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the field of auto repair, drivers may come to you for their brake repair needs in the future, seeking answers to questions and concerns, or looking for solutions to problems they’re experiencing. When it comes to servicing a vehicle’s brakes, there are a few signs of damage which will often indicate that a further inspection, otherwise known as a brake check, is needed. 

At ATC Cambridge, students will engage in hands-on learning, building the skills to identify the signs that a vehicle’s brakes may need maintenance. With your professional training and experience, you’ll be able to advise clients on whether their brakes will need to be repaired, helping them to stay safe on the roads. Below, discover three signs that a vehicle’s brakes need to be checked after auto mechanic school.

After Auto Mechanic School, Look Out for Worn Pads

After you graduate from auto mechanic school, you’ll be well versed in the ins and outs of braking systems, helping you to identify any warning signs. Brakes bring a vehicle to a stop when a driver presses on the pedal, triggering two padded clamps to squeeze a disc together, the friction of which slows the vehicle. Those padded clamps, also known as brake pads, must be in good condition at all times, as worn out brake pads reduce a vehicle’s capacity to slow down quickly. Over time, however, these pads can eventually thin out, and if a client hasn’t had their brakes checked in a while, it’s best to conduct a brake check to test the condition of the pads. With these parts compromised, it can be harder for drivers to stop the vehicle, endangering themselves and others on the road. 

Strange Sounds Indicate a Problem

If customers are entering your shop complaining of squeaking, squealing or grinding sounds coming from their brakes, you’ll want to be sure to use your automotive school training to conduct a brake check. When brakes are worn out, pressing the pedal down will create an unusual noise, indicating that there’s not enough friction between the components of the braking system to smoothly brake. If a driver procrastinates getting their brakes checked, but continues to hear strange sounds, they risk damaging the brakes further, resulting in safety hazards and a more expensive repair. 

Distinguish Between Normal and Abnormal Vibration

Vibration when braking can be normal in some vehicles, such as when an anti-lock braking system is in use. However, if vibration is felt in the steering wheel or brake pedal, this can indicate that something is wrong with the vehicle’s brakes. More precisely, this could be a problem with the rotors (or the brake disc). If one part of the disc is disproportionately thin or thick, its shape can cause pulsation or vibration when braking. As a mechanic, you’ll want to take the vehicle for a test drive to look for two things: whether the car brakes at the slightest touch, or if more force than normal is needed to bring the vehicle to a stop. If they answer yes to either of these questions, it’s a sign that a full brake check should be performed.

Are you thinking of pursuing auto mechanic training?

Check out our program at ATC Cambridge today!