Are your Land Rover’s brakes functioning as they should?

Regardless of whether you have a Defender, Discovery, Freelander or Range Rover on the whole the robustness of a Land Rover makes it a safe vehicle to drive. However, dangers occur when basic features are taken for granted…

Brakes. Most of the time they’re efficient and functioning as they should. Nevertheless, accidents do happen and failed brakes can have devastating effects. To help you stay safe we’ve put together this guide on detecting if there is a problem with your Land Rover’s brakes.

The brake pedal on your Land Rover is pulsating
If you feel the brake pedal is pulsating or vibrating when you touch it with your foot it could be a sign that your Land Rover has worn out or warped brake pads. It is likely that this will require a brake pad replacement, and should be checked out by a Land Rover expert as soon as possible.

The brakes are making noises
If your Land Rover makes screeching or grinding noises when you brake there could be an indication that something is wrong. These noises may indicate that your brake pads have worn away, or simply that there is a layer of rust over the brake disc which will wear off as you drive. Additionally, clicking noises can indicate there is a spring problem. To ensure your Land Rover is correctly diagnosed and no unnecessary repairs are carried out it’s best to take your vehicle to a Land Rover specialist.

Your Land Rover is pulling to one side
If your Land Rover pulls to one side as you brake there’s a chance your brake pads are worn unevenly, or that you’ve got a brake fluid leak. If your Land Rover is pulling whilst accelerating or driving at a steady speed (without braking) you may have a different issue, such as misaligned wheels.

The ABS warning light is on
The warning lights on the dashboard of a Land Rover are often ignored. However, if the ABS warning light comes in it may be a sign that the wiring has malfunctioned. Issues with the wiring can lead to brakes not working properly and should therefore be looked immediately.

Your Land Rover doesn’t feel right
When you’ve been driving a vehicle for a while you’ll get used to how it should feel. Anything out of the ordinary should be looked at as soon as possible. For example, someone else may not notice that the brakes feel spongy or lighter than usual which may indicate there is air in the brakes. Or, if your stopping distance has increased it can be an early indicator that your brakes are worn and need replacing at the nearest possible opportunity.

There are problems with your Land Rover’s handbrake
The electric handbrake fitted to certain Land Rover and Range Rover models can have problems if not serviced frequently (even on low mileage vehicles). If you notice that the fault light is on, or your handbrake is becoming noisy or difficult to use we are able to repair it rather than replace the entire handbrake module - providing you get it looked at sooner rather than later.

Get your brakes looked at before it’s too late…
We care about your safety, and we’ll always take a look at your Land Rover if you’re worried that something is wrong. As the South Coast’s leading independent Land Rover specialist we understand what your vehicle needs. We’ll let you know whether something will affect your safety and needs an urgent repair - or whether it’s just an inconvenience that can be dealt with at a later date. Worried about your brakes? Give us a call or visit our garage in Bognor Regis, West Sussex.