The brakes are a crucial part of your car's safety system. Without them, you can't slow down or halt the vehicle to avoid an accident. That said, brakes can malfunction due to a variety of issues and require repair service. The best way to deal with brake problems is to address them as soon as they're detected. 

Here are some common brake trouble signs to watch out for.

Noisy brakes

When they're functioning properly, your brakes make little to no noise when you press down the brake pedal. That's why you shouldn't ignore any strange noises you may hear when the brakes are applied. Faulty brakes can make a wide range of noises, including squealing, screeching, grinding and squeaking sounds. 

Different noises may point to different issues with the brakes. Your best bet for troubleshooting and repairing the underlying problem is to get your brakes checked by a brake repair specialist.

Low brake fluid level

If your car has a hydraulic brake system, brake fluid is one of the car fluids you should check regularly. A low brake fluid level will prevent your brakes from functioning properly and often indicates that brake fluid is leaking out of the car.

Before topping up the brake fluid, you should identify and fix the source of the leak. Otherwise, the brake fluid level will keep dropping below the acceptable or safe levels.

Spongy brake pedal

Brake application is initiated when you place your foot on the brake pedal and gently press it down. If your brake pedal starts to feel softer than usual when you apply gentle foot pressure to it, this is a sign of failing brakes. In some situations, the pedal travels all the way down to the floor of your car without decelerating your car as expected.

There are many possible reasons why your brake pedal may feel 'spongy' when pressed down. A brake repair specialist can help you get to the root cause of the problem.

Strong steering wheel vibrations when you brake

If you feel strong vibrations in the steering wheel when you hit the brakes, there's a huge chance your brake rotor may be uneven or warped. During brake repair service, the rotor will be evened out or replaced to fix the problem.

One of the scariest experiences you may have while driving is learning you have no braking power when you're trying to avoid ramming into an oncoming vehicle. If you notice any of the above-highlighted brake trouble signs, you should let a local brake repair service check and fix the problem.