Brake failure signs & solutions

We love to upgrade our cars. Some of us do it by adding stickers and sparkly lights, others do it by tweaking the performance. Some may argue that way too many stickers make a car just as fast. It's being hotly debated in our canteen right now. But being fast is a secondary concern. Being able to stop is more important. Maintaining brakes should be the number one concern for any car owner. Catching a braking problem before it becomes a full blown death warrant is more important than not missing a single episode of Game of Thrones. Below are the top three common brake issues.

Noise: Brakes should work noiselessly like a good robot slave. If there's an ear spitting shriek each time you stop, there's a problem. Disc brake caliper have a warning tab that does just as the name suggests. When the pads are too thin, that tab connects to the disc and starts screaming, literally, to warn you you're out of 'brake'. Time to replace brakes pads or risk having your brake disc suffer some serious groves. Some brake pads are made of metallic compounds that cause slight squealing during normal operation. There's a difference between acceptable squeal and a metallic scratching and shrieking.
Solution: Replace with new brake pads. Or turn up the music till everything breaks down. We wouldn't suggest the latter.

Spongy/hard pedal: If you press the brake and the pedal just gives up like a two-day old shingara, this could mean a fluid leak. If brake fluid is leaking, pedal will be spongy. On the other hand, if pedal feels too hard and cannot be compressed that could mean there is air/water in the line. Brake fluid is hygroscopic. What this fancy word means is that brake fluid has the ability to absorb water from its surroundings. Which is why brake master cylinder reservoir has a tight plastic cap over it. Despite that the fluid still needs changing every two years or so because it breaks down.
Solution: Have the brake fluid replaced and the lines bled clear of air properly. If the pedal is still soft and low, have the booster line and the check valve...checked. In times like these, the brake master cylinder is probably toast. If the pedal is always hard despite proper bleeding, the brake booster is likely at fault because it is not able to balance the vacuum properly. Sometimes when a master cylinder fails, it leaks fluid into the brake booster which eats away the rubber diaphragm in the booster. While you're at it, check each brake hose behind each wheel. These should be firm and solid.

Vibrations: Every time you brake does it feel like you are receiving a foot message? While it may sound comfortable, it's not a comforting thought. Vibrations while braking mean your brake disc is warped. The brakes are grabbing/not grabbing/grabbing and so on. This happens when discs have been through tremendous stress and suffered from excessive heat buildup.

Solution: Have the discs turned (cut) in a lathe to make them even again.