Brakes suddenly feel like they stepped in some gum? It’s inconvenient when you’re walking – it’s even more inconvenient, and also unsafe, when it’s your brakes sticking. Sticky brakes can lead to some serious brake repairs , so it’s important to get them checked out and fixed as soon as possible. Still, you may be curious about what’s actually happening with your brakes when you feel them stick, as well as what can happen if you continue driving with them. Let’s take a look at some possibilities.
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If you didn’t recently do a hard brake, you’re most likely dealing with a problem with your calipers. These are the metal parts that hold your brake pads on either side of your rotors, then compress the pads against your rotors when you press the brake pedal. If it gets stuck when you apply the brakes, you’ll feel your brakes sticking.
Other key signs that your problem is the calipers include noticing your car pulling to one side or the other or heat coming off your wheels. If your car is pulling while your brakes feel sticky, that’s because the caliper is stuck with your brake pad held against the rotor on one wheel. Because the brake pad is stuck against the rotor while you’re still driving, it’s generating more heat than usual and you’ll be able to feel it coming off your wheel when you get out of your car to check.
Pay attention to the feel of your brake pedal, too. If it feels soft or spongy or needs to be fully depressed down to the floor in order to work, the problem is in the hydraulics of your brake system, not the calipers. This can pose just as many issues as having your calipers stick, so it’s important to take note if you do notice these problems.
Take your car to a mechanic and they’ll want to take a look at your master cylinder and the condition of your brake fluid. You could have a leak from the master cylinder, meaning your brake fluid level is too low to effectively transfer pressure so you can brake. You could also simply have air pockets in your brake fluid that need to be bled out.
There’s risk to continued driving once you notice your brakes sticking. Not only is it a safety risk, but you can also cause more damage to parts of your brake system, ultimately costing you more money to get your car back up and running well.
Whenever your brakes start sticking, it means the brake pads are being held against the rotors even if you release the brake pedal. This is going to mean they’ll wear down much faster than they should as your rotors keep moving and you’ll have to get new brake pads on just that wheel sooner than you normally would. If your brake pads are already worn, it can be risky, since they can wear out while stuck.
Not only does it put more wear on your brake pads, it also causes more strain on your transmission. Just like heavy loads will cause more wear for your transmission, having a stuck brake is causing a similar reaction for your car. The longer you drive with your brake stuck, the more likely you are to have serious transmission damage.
A lot of heat is generated from the friction of your brake pads on a moving rotor. Under normal circumstances, your brake pads will release before too much heat is generated. However, if your brakes are stuck, it can cause your brakes and surrounding parts to overheat. This can lead to serious damage and even cause your brakes to be less effective.
When your brakes overheat, it can impact the surface of your brake pads even once you get the brakes un-stuck. If your brakes have been sticking for long enough, you may not be able to brake as effectively for a while.
If you notice your brakes sticking and are worried about any parts that might be damaged, make your appointment with the brake experts at AAMCO Utah and we’ll get you safely back on the road. All of our services include a free inspection of key systems to keep your car operating its best.
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The post My Brakes Feel Sticky – What Does This Mean? first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
