Common Brake Issues

For safety reasons, your brakes are not something you want to ignore. If your brakes are showing signs of having issues, you should get them checked out. Whether it's Lentz or another brake repair shop, for your safety and the safety of others, you should have them looked at by a professional. We offer free brake inspection, so you really have no reason not to get them checked.

On this page we cover some of the most common brake issues and what causes them. If you have any of these issues, our experienced team can help resolve them. Common signs of brake problems include:

  • ​An illuminated brake light
  • ​Squealing, Vibrations, or Grinding
  • ​A soft brake pedal
  • Pulling to one side when braking
  • A burning smell or smoking tire​

​An illuminated brake light

Modern cars typically have three kinds of warning lights for brakes:
  • A Parking Brake (yellow or red) warning light comes on if your parking brake is engaged, or perhaps gets bumped and becomes partially engaged. Make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. If you have done that and the light is still on, take your car to a professional. 
  • An Anti-lock Brake (yellow) warning light might come on because of a dirty or broken speed sensor. It could be caused by a blown fuse, low brake fluid, or a larger issue with the ABS system.
  • A Brake Warning Light (red) is for the brakes themselves and could be caused by low brake fluid, leaking brake fluid (which is an an urgent issue), worn brake pads, or other issue. 

If you car only has one warning light for brakes, you should first make sure it's not because your parking brake is on. If that isn't it, then it could be any of the above issues and you will need to get your car checked out by a professional.

​Squealing, Vibrations, or Grinding

Squealing brakes could be caused by the brake pad wear indicators. These steel indicators squeal when the come in contact with the brake rotors, letting you know you need to get your brake pads changed soon.

Grinding could be caused if your brake pads have worn through and you are now hearing the rotors grinding. Grinding could also be caused by gravel or debris stuck in the brakes. Grinding could cause be caused by a lack of lubrication. Or it could be caused by rust on the braking components. 

​​A Soft brake pedal

A soft brake pedal can be caused by a number of issues, and in general, it's not a good sign. We'll take the potential causes by level of severity.
  • Worn brake pads. In some cases, worn brake pads will cause you to have to depress the brake pedal further and further. 
  • Leaking Brake Fluid. If your car is leaking brake fluid it may result in a soft brake pedal. Leaking brake fluid is an urgent issue. If you run out of brake fluid you will not be able to stop.
  • Air, or Moisture in the system. Again this is an indication of a leak of some sort.
  • Master Cylinder. There is typically one master cylinder that powers the individual brakes. if there is an issue with it, your brakes could fail to function.
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Again, in any of the above scenarios, it is an indication of an issue you want to get looked at by a professional right away. 

​Pulling to one side when braking

If your car is pulling to one side when braking, it could be an indication of a brake hose problem, or a caliper (the part that squeezes) applying more pressure than the others. This could happen if a caliper gets stuck. Pulling to one side could also be caused by low tire pressure, or it could actually be worn out suspension, or other issues. 

​A burning smell or smoking tire​

A smoking tire could be caused by a stuck brake caliper (the part that squeezes the wheel). It could also be caused by repeated, hard braking. Or it could be caused by a parking brake that was left on.

Pull over, make sure the parking brake is fully disengaged. If you've been braking hard, let the brakes cool. It may be unsafe to continue driving the car without repairs.

The burning smell could be caused by issues aside from brakes, including: clutch issues, electrical issues, heat issues, etc. 

Free Brake Inspection

We recommend a brake system inspection every 12,000 miles or at least once per year. 

If you are taking a road trip and want peace of mind, or you are simply driving around town and feel like it's time to get your brakes checked, we invite you to stop by for a free brake inspection. We will inspect all major components of your brake system including:
  • calipers
  • rotors/discs
  • drums
  • pads and shoes 
  • hoses
  • brake fluid check​
We will provide you with a written estimate of any repairs that need to be performed and will not start any repair work until you approve of the estimate.
GET AN ESTIMATE - CLICK HERE!

Family Owned Since 1972

Gordon Lentz opened his first auto repair shop in 1972. Trained as a mechanical engineer. His first exposure to the automotive repair business came in the early 1970's, when he was selling storage systems to muffler repair shops. He could see room for improvement in a lot of the shops he visited. He took a chance; quit his job, and invested his life savings in building his own auto service center. Today, Lentz Auto Repair is still family owned and operated, guided by the same simple mission that started over 45 years ago: “treat our customers as we would like to be treated and provide quality products at fair prices.”

Warranty Information

Auto services are performed on non-commercial vehicles and are accompanied by a limited warranty.  If a warranted part fails to perform during the time of ownership, simply return to any LENTZ USA Service Center with your receipt for repairs. Family owned and operated since 1972.  Senior and student discounts available.

The Lentz USA service team is ready to help you
• Brakes
• Mufflers
• Exhaust
• Springs
• CV joints/axels
• Steering suspension
• Air conditioning
• Engine repair and replacement
• Tune up
• Computer diagnostic equipment
• Alignment services (2 and 4 wheel)
• Transmission repair
• Oil changes
• Custom pipe bending
• Street rods
• Brake and anti locks
• Front and rear end suspension
• Shocks and struts
• Tire rotation
• Safety inspections
• Belts and hoses
• Starters
• Motor flushes
• Alternators and batteries