5 WARNING SIGNS YOUR BRAKES NEED REPLACING

Your brakes are the most important safety system on your car. With Cape Town's hills — Kloof Nek, Constantia Nek, Sir Lowry's Pass — and busy roads, worn brakes are genuinely dangerous. These 5 signs mean you need brake work now.

1. Squealing or Squeaking Sound

Brake pads have a built-in wear indicator — a small metal tab that squeals when the pads get low. If you hear a high-pitched squeal when you brake, your pads are telling you they need replacing.

2. Grinding Metal Sound

This is worse than squealing. Grinding means the brake pads are completely worn through and metal is grinding on metal. You're now damaging your brake discs too — which makes the repair more expensive.

3. Car Pulls to One Side When Braking

If your car pulls left or right when you apply the brakes, one brake caliper may be sticking or one set of pads is more worn than the other. This can cause you to lose control in an emergency stop — especially on wet winter roads.

4. Brake Pedal Feels Soft or Spongy

Your pedal should feel firm. If it goes further to the floor than usual, or feels soft, you could have a brake fluid leak or air in the brake lines. This is urgent — don't drive far.

5. Vibration When You Brake

If your steering wheel or car shakes when braking — especially coming down Chapman's Peak or Sir Lowry's — your brake discs are likely warped. This usually happens from heavy braking over time. Warped discs can't be ignored.