I have a feeling the brakes are dragging on my car. There is some vibration at low speeds sometimes and my city mileage is terrible (about 15-17). However, after getting up to high speeds there is no vibration(unless the road is bad) and highway mileage is fine (about 27). So I wanted to see if the brakes are dragging. How can I check this?

 

The best solution I can think of: find a largeempty parking lot. Park the car and allow it to sit until the brakes are cold. Crank the car and drive it around the parking lot without ever hitting the brakes. Allow the car to completely roll to a stop and put it in park (if it's an auto - if it's a manual, put it in reverse and turn the car off, then release the clutch.) Get out and feel the brake rotorswith your fingers. If they are hot, youhave dragging brakes.
Or you could put the car up on jack stands and roll the wheels by handand check to see if the brakes are dragging. But it may not be the same with no weight on the wheels. I would do option#1.

 

yep, that's how i'd do it.

 

You canusually feel it when coasting the last few inches before stopping. Find an empty parking lot. Just barely get it moving, then coast (neutral or disengage clutch). You feel dragging brakes as a subtle grab at the very last second.

If theyre not dragging you should not really feel anything when it comes to a complete stop.