A healthy braking system is essential for safe driving. Your brakes give you complete control over your car’s speed and allow you to stop exactly when you need to. Your car’s braking system requires regular servicing to keep it in good condition, as parts will inevitably wear out due to age. As your GMC dealer, we’d like to advise you on some signs that you need to visit us for a brake repair.
Your Car Pulls to One Side
When your braking system is in good condition, each wheel will stop moving when you hit the brakes. If you experience your car pulling to one side when you brake, this is a sign that there’s a problem with your braking system. In this situation, one of the brakes doesn’t apply correctly, and your car turns in the direction of the working brake.
When you apply the brake, brake fluid is pumped into the brake hoses. This fluid generates hydraulic pressure that forces the calipers to close on the wheel rotors. The calipers generate friction against the rotors, which causes the wheels to stop moving. A damaged or jammed caliper may not close on its rotor, and the wheel will continue to move. We’ll identify the cause of the problem and repair it.
Screeching Sounds
As we saw above, the action of braking forces the calipers against both sides of each of the rotors. The calipers house the brake pads, and the brake pads generate friction that stops the movement of the rotors. The pads are covered with a 1/2″ thick friction material covering that produces the required friction. The friction material wears down very slightly each time you brake.
When a pad drops to 1/4″ thickness, a metal spike becomes visible inside the friction material. A spike provides a warning that a pad needs replacement. The next time you brake, the spike will scratch against the rotor, which produces a loud screeching noise. When you hear this sound, it’s time to visit us for replacement pads.
Soft Brake Pedal
The braking system operates under high pressure to ensure your brakes work as speedily and efficiently as possible. When you step on the brake pedal, you’ll feel resistance from the pressurized brake fluid. The resistance from the fluid increases as you apply more pressure to the pedal. If you step on the pedal and you don’t feel resistance, this is a sign of a serious problem.
The lack of resistance from the pedal means that the braking system is operating at low pressure. If the braking system doesn’t have enough pressure, your brakes will be slow to apply or may not apply at all. We’ll examine your brakes and fix the cause of the problem.
If your brakes are worn or damaged, call us right away at Hart Motors GMC.
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