Brakes are one of those things you don't think about until they start talking to you. On a Sorento, that conversation usually starts with a noise, a feel through the pedal, or a light on the dashboard. Catch it early and the fix is cheaper. Wait, and it's not. Squealing or Squeaking A high-pitched squeal when you brake is usually the wear indicator on the pad. A little metal tab is built into the pad. It scrapes the rotor once the pad gets thin. That sound is the pad telling you it's time. Ignore it long enough and the squeal turns into a grind. By then, the pads are gone and the metal backing is digging into the rotor. New pads alone won't fix it. Rotors come off, too. Squeaking sometimes is just dust or moisture, especially first thing in the morning. Goes away after a few stops? Normal. Sticks around all day? That's the wear tab. Soft or Spongy Pedal The pedal feels soft, sinks toward the floor, or takes more travel than it used to. Different problem. Usually points to air in the lines, a fluid leak, or a master cylinder going bad. Don't drive on this one. A pedal getting softer is a pedal that might not be there when you need it. Check your fluid level first. If it's low, something's leaking. Lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder. Any of them. Vibration Through the Pedal Pedal pulses when you brake, especially coming down off 580? Rotors are warped. Sorentos that do a lot of grade driving or tow regularly cook the rotors, and that heat is what warps them over time. Sometimes machining brings them back. A lot of times, they need replacing, especially if they've been through it before. Pulling to One Side Sorento pulling left or right when you brake usually means a stuck caliper or uneven pad wear. Could also be a brake hose collapsing on the inside, which chokes fluid flow on that side. The pull gets worse as the brake heats up. Not just annoying. It's a control problem, especially in the rain or in heavy traffic. Brake Warning Lights Two lights worth knowing on a Sorento. The brake warning light is the circle with an exclamation mark. It could be low fluid, the parking brake on, or a system issue. The ABS light is separate. Usually a wheel speed sensor or the ABS module itself. Both lights on together? Get it looked at right away. The system might be shutting off features to protect itself. Parking Brake Issues The electronic parking brake on newer Sorentos has its own quirks. Sometimes it won't release. Sometimes it throws a fault. The fix is usually in the actuator at the rear caliper, but a scan tool has to put it into service mode before any work happens. If your Sorento's brakes are doing anything they weren't doing last month, bring it by Driven Auto Care of Castro Valley. Brakes aren't where you want to roll the dice.