Angie's List: Warning signs of bad brakes

When your brakes start to squeak, it's time to have them checked.

Certified mechanic Fred Kuhn  explained "you'll hear a screeching noise that will sometimes go away when you apply the brake,s or only occur when you apply the brakes."

Kuhn says if they start to grind, and you hear metal scraping metal, you may need more than brake pads.

"That grinding noise means uh-oh you've gone a little bit too long and that usually requires replacing the brake rotors also," Kuhn said.
 
Another warning sign: Feeling vibrations or pulsations when you apply the brake pedal.  That could mean warped rotors, the metal disc the brake pads grab.

Unfortunately, $89 brake jobs are pretty much a thing of the past.

 "Brake pads from different companies start off anywhere from $100 up to $200, $300 - it depends on the make and model of the car. The newer cars are more expensive than the older cars and the pads are a different material. That's why they are more expensive."    

Our partners at the consumer guide Angie's List say rather than being lured by a coupon, stick to a trusted repair shop for something as important as your brakes.

Angie's List founder, Angie Hicks, said "when looking for a mechanic you want find someone who has expertise with the type of car you have so they have the right equipment to run the diagnostics necessary. Find that mechanic preferably before you have a big issue like your brakes. Use them for oil changes, that way you know you have a rapport and they know your car."