Almost one in 200 road accidents in the US are caused by malfunctioning brakes. While fortunately rare, brake failure does sometimes occur when brakes are neglected. With this in mind, always keep your brakes in great shape with regular inspections, and have brake repair carried out quickly at your local CDJR dealer if the following signs of trouble arise.
Reduced Stopping Power
The most hazardous symptom of worn-out brakes is a sudden drop in brake force. If you find your car taking longer to stop when you press the pedal, pull over right away and try to figure out what’s wrong. Your brakes might have completely worn-out parts or a brake fluid leak.
They might also be overheating, which can cause brake fade. When overheated by excessive continual use and pressure, the friction layer of brake pads can begin to melt, releasing a minuscule amount of gas that creates a cushion and lessens friction: the phenomenon known as brake fade.
Spongy Brake Pedal
The brake pedal should always feel firm underfoot. If you sense a certain softness or sponginess to the pedal one day, you might have a break fluid leak on your hands.
When brake fluid leaks, hydraulic pressure is lost inside the brake line, which lessens the pedal’s ability to deliver stopping power to the caliper at the wheel. If you suspect a leak, check under your car and inside the wheel wells for a leaking fluid that’s yellow, amber, or brown in hue. Very degraded brake fluid could also lead to sponginess and reduced stopping power.
Squealing or Grinding Brake Pads
If you’ve owned your car for a few years, you may already have changed a brake pad once or twice. These pads are designed to generate a distinctive squealing noise when they’re almost worn out, which alerts you to the need for a new pad. A grinding sound might indicate that a brake pad has lost its friction layer altogether and needs to be replaced urgently.
Vibrating Rotor Discs
Rotors can occasionally become scored by faulty brake pads, warped by overheating, or damaged by age and frailty. Once a rotor is on its last legs, it often generates vibrations that you’ll feel in the brake pedal.
Have Your Brakes Inspected at Your CDJR Dealership
Biannual brake inspections are a vital part of proper automotive care. When you bring in your car, we’ll carefully examine the brake fluid and lines. We’ll raise the vehicle and remove the wheels to access the brake mechanisms. By removing and thoroughly inspecting each caliper, rotor, and pad, we can ascertain the condition of your brakes and let you know if any replacements are required.
More than any other vehicle component, brakes are crucial to your road safety. Allow us to ensure your brakes are in tip-top condition with routine inspections and repairs. Visit Charbonneau Chrysler Center in Dickinson, ND today for prompt help from our courteous, seasoned technicians.
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