One of the most fundamental requirements of a car is its ability to stop. When something goes wrong and your brakes start to make you question whether they’ll do the job at the next red light, you need help.

Here are five of the most tell tale signs that you need a brake inspection.

1. There’s an unsettling noise coming from your brakes.

When you push down on the brake pedal, do you hear a grinding noise? Does everyone turn their head as you approach an intersection because the squeak of your car is so loud? These noises aren’t normal and shouldn’t be ignored. Unusual sounds are often a sign that it’s time to replace a part in your brakes. Without a brake inspection, you could make the problem even worse.

2. You feel your car pulling every time you push down on the brake pedal.

As you come to a stop, does your car want to push you to the left or the right? Pulling might be a sign that something’s wrong on the braking surface or on your caliper. It could also be a sign of other car problems. Getting your car inspected will help you pin point what’s going wrong.

3. Your brakes are slow to engage.

When you push the brake pedal, you want to stop. However, if your brakes are in need of repair, pushing the brake pedal might not be enough to bring your car to a fast stop. This is a frightening sensation and one that needs to be addressed by a mechanic right away.

4. Your car vibrates when you stop.

Sometimes, a car will vibrate when you come to a stop. This is more than just a nuisance; it could mean something’s wrong with your brake rotor, among other things. Have your brakes and your tires checked out to diagnose the exact problem.

5. You see a warning light.

This is a fairly obvious tell tale sign that you need to have your brakes checked, yet it’s also one of the easiest to ignore. Your car knows there is something wrong. Heed the warning by getting it into a mechanic ASAP.

Never ignore any type of warning light or signal on your dashboard. The more you do, the more you could be causing further damage to your vehicle. Even worse, you could be putting yourself, your passengers, and others on the road at risk of a malfunction happening while you’re driving.

Stop by Rita Ranch Automotive & Tire to get your brakes checked for free. We’ll narrow it down to find the exact cause of the problem, so you can get your car repaired and get back on the road again fast.