4. Sense of Touch: Brake Vibration & Pedal Feel

When you press down on the brake pedal, you should feel firm, progressive resistance that makes it easy to modulate the pedal and brake smoothly, confidently and, when necessary, quickly. If you feel something unusual with the brake pedal, there could be an issue in the brake system that needs to be addressed. If the pedal feels soft or sinks to the floor, there could be a lack of brake fluid pressure in the system. To fix this, you may need brake components under the hood replaced, such as the brake master cylinder. Meanwhile, if the pedal vibrates or shakes under braking, you may have warped or damaged brake rotors. Such rotors should be replaced or resurfaced so you can stop smoothly and safely.

3. Sense of Hearing: Brake Pad Wear Indicators

If you can hear a whining or squeaking sound when braking, your brakes might be trying to tell you something -- so listen up! Brakes can squeak for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the most common is the brake pad wear indicator. As your brake pads near the end of their usable life, a small metal tab may begin to rub against the brake rotors, causing a high-pitched squealing noise. This noise is often easiest to detect when driving slowly, like when backing out of a driveway or parking spot. That means it's time to get your brake pads replaced at a service center very soon.

2. Sense of Smell: Burning Smell From Brakes

If you've got a dragging brake caliper, you may begin to detect a smell reminiscent of burning wood or burning rubber coming from the vehicle. If you had to make a hard emergency stop, such an odor for a short time is not unheard of. But, if you've detected a burning smell that continues for some time, your brakes may need to be checked. A dragging brake caliper means that the brakes aren't disengaging properly, and -- even when your foot isn't touching the brake pedal -- one of your brakes is still partially engaged. This is called a dragging brake, and the excessive friction can cause a burning smell to develop. You may also hear a grinding noise from the wheels as you drive. Grinding brakes can cause major damage to brake system components over time, so get this problem checked out by the pros right away.

1. Sense of Sight: Warning Lights & Rotor Scoring

Every once in a while, it's a good idea to take a look at your vehicle's brake rotors. Peer through the spokes in the wheels if you can and take a look at the brake rotor. It should be relatively smooth and, assuming the vehicle's been driven recently, rust-free. If they look to be damaged, cracked, scored, rusted or have an uneven surface, you may need brake service before more severe damage develops in the brake system.

Of course, various other brake system problems -- such as a problem with the anti-lock braking system, or with a pre-collision autonomous braking feature -- may be indicated with a warning light in the dashboard. If you see such a light, feel free to give us a call to ask one of our Subaru factory-trained technicians how you should proceed.