Brakes work by converting friction into stopping power.  When you push on the brakes, the brake fluid goes through the brake lines pushing the brake calipers which in turn push the brake pads onto your rotors or drums, causing them to stop. It's just like rubbing something between your hands, if you hold it loose or not at all, it moves freely, but the more pressure you put on it, the more it slows down and eventually stops.

Common Brake Issues

• Grinding or scratching noise – This occurs when the brake pad has worn down or away entirely and the metal plate that once held the pad in place is now rubbing against the rotor. This is very serious because you now have no braking material and the two pieces of metal rubbing against each other can melt causing your brakes to stick, which could prove fatal.

• Loud screeching or high pitch noises – This often means that your rotors are glazed. Glazing is caused by excessive braking which burns the rotors as they get too hot. You can tell this has happened because the rotors will have a dark ring or blue marks on them. You can prevent this from happening by avoiding sudden braking when decreasing your speed quickly. Slamming on the brakes causes a lot of friction which turns to heat and causes the burn on the rotor. It may also cause the rotors to warp which can lead to vibrations.

• Vibrations while braking often means your rotors or drums have become warped. This is caused by heat making them lose their shape. The best way to determine whether the vibration is coming from the front or back is to drive down the road, pushing the brakes until you feel the vibration. If you feel it through the steering wheel then it’s the front brakes that need replacing as the vibration is being transferred through the front wheels.

• Brake Pull is when your vehicle pulls to one direction when you brake. This can be caused by one brake caliper not applying the brakes evenly with the other, usually as a result of a fluid leak in the caliper. To determine which side it is, you'll just have to look at the brake caliper and see which one is leaking; it is advisable that this is carried out by a professional.