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You’ve probably heard the old saying: March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. That’s as far as the weather goes. Here at Hilltop Tire Service, we want to help your vehicle go from a lion to a lamb. If your brakes sound like a roaring lion, then you most likely need new brakes. Here are a few warning signs to look for.

1. The brake pads are worn out. The lion's pads on their giant paws are meant to last a lifetime as they roam the Savannah. Your brakes pads are not. After a while, they wear out, and when they do, your braking performance deteriorates.

2. Your brakes sound like the king of the jungle. If you hit the brakes and send repercussions throughout the animal kingdom, you know it’s probably time to get your brakes replaced. A brake sensor will squeal when you step on the brakes to let you know they are wearing out, but if you hear a harsh, grinding sound, that’s when your brakes are completely worn out and you could be doing damage to your vehicle. Get them replaced ASAP.

3. Your vehicle vibrates when you hit the brakes. Is your vehicle shaking like a zebra on the African dessert when a lion is hunting it down? If you notice your car shaking or the steering wheel vibrating when you brake, this generally means you have a warped brake rotor. If you wait any longer to fix this, you will damage more than just your brakes. Stop by Hilltop Tire Service right away to get your brakes accessed.

4. Temperamental brake pedal. Lions are probably pretty temperamental too, only doing what they want when they want and that’s it. It’s time to look at getting new brakes, if they go from a “little touchy” to “Help, I just pushed my foot through the floorboards to get my car to stop!”

5. Brake warning light. Don’t think lions have a warning light, but if you notice the brake warning light on your dash, visit Hilltop Tire Service as soon as possible for a FREE brake inspection.