There will come a time whilst you are driving that you will have problems with your brakes. You might not notice it immediately but once you start to hear the noises, know that there is something wrong.

First thing’s first. Slowly pull over to the side of the road as soon as you start to hear these noises. Make sure that you keep a good distance from the road in case you have a flat tyre instead and need to change it.

These are the different noises your brakes make that you should be fully aware of:

Grinding – grinding is usually the sound of two metal pieces rubbing together. So know that this means that you have a severely damaged brake pad. Without a brake pad, there is nothing that is stopping you safely. It is recommended that you do not continue to drive as it could prevent you from stopping at a traffic light.

Knocking from the rear – this constant annoying sound you hear when applying brakes indicates that there is a problem with the rear drums. There could be a possibility that the brake or rear drum has been resurfaced which is causing that knocking sound. Fixing this problem can be done by yourself but it would be wise to get a technician to fix it.

Squeaking – this is a sign that wear has been done to the brakes. If not fixed it could be dangerous to you. The squeaking sound is usually caused by a wear indicator. This lets the driver know that wear is being detected. Make sure that you get the brakes replaced immediately. You can still drive a good distance before being in danger but make sure that they get replaced soon.

If you are aware of the problem whilst you are driving and know that the problem is dangerous to you and other drivers make sure that you switch your hazard lights on and drive slowly and calmly. If your brakes don’t work at all, release the accelerator and slowly move into the side lane. With the car losing momentum you will eventually come to a stop. Engine braking will also assist the car to slow down. Engine braking is achieved by gearing down.

When you are close to coming to a stop, pull up the hand brake slowly so that your wheels don’t lock up thus making you swerve around dangerously.