- The brake light comes on
- The car wobbles, vibrates, or the brakes sound as if they’re scraping
- Leaking fluid
- A spongy feeling when you step on the brake pedal
- The car veers to one side when you brake
- You may detect a smell of something burning
- Excessive vibration when you slam on the brakes
- Squealing or grinding noises may indicate that the brake pads have worn down to the steel backing plate, which means they require immediate replacement.