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What causes brakes to lock up while driving?

I recently purchased a used car. It handled just fine at first, but now it’s locking up all the time. What makes brakes lock up while you’re driving?

avatar
Holden Easterbrook · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Buying a
used car
is always difficult—you never know what you’re going to get.
If you’re thinking of contacting your seller about the issues, be aware that brakes can begin locking up for several reasons:
  • Overheating braking system
  • Using the wrong
    brake fluid
  • A defective ABS
  • Broken parts
You should take your vehicle to a mechanic right away to have the brakes checked. Continuing to drive with faulty brakes is putting you and other drivers at risk. While you’re waiting on your car at the shop, why not check out the
Jerry
app?
As a licensed insurance broker, Jerry provides users with quotes from more than 50 insurance companies. In less than two minutes, you could save an average of $887 on your insurance payments every year. That’s enough to cover replacing your brakes along with a little left over for yourself, so get Jerry and start saving today!
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