Jim Turner Chevrolet
Oct 21, 2022
From Your Chevy Dealer: How to Tell If Your Car Needs a Brake RepairOn a list of warning signs from your vehicle that should never be ignored, those indicating that your brakes are about to fail are right at the top. Without properly functioning brakes, you could end up in an accident that leads to costly repairs and bodily injury. Here are a few ways to tell that you may need to head to your local Chevy dealer in McGregor for a brake repair.

 

Squealing Noises

One of the first things you may notice when your brakes are beginning to lose their effectiveness is hearing high-pitched squealing as you depress the brake pedal. There’s no need to panic at this point because brake pads are made with a wear indicator that’s meant to produce this noise when it meets with the brake rotor. It’s just letting you know that your brakes have worn down to the point where they’ll need replacement soon

Brake Pedal Vibrations

When you feel strong vibrations coming from your brake pedal, it’s possible that your brake rotors are warped or not aligned correctly, which leads to uneven grabbing of the brake pads. This situation can also be accompanied by a squealing sound. If brought into the shop early enough, the rotors can still be salvaged with a resurfacing job to smooth them out, but the brake pads will usually need to be replaced.

Another cause of these vibrations is when the brakes pads become covered with excess dirt, fluids, or other contaminants.

Increased Brake Pedal Travel

If your vehicle’s brake pedal needs to be pressed down farther than normal in order to slow down, especially to the point that it reaches the floor, the usual cause is excess air in the brake lines. Under normal operation, the braking system’s vacuum booster amplifies the pressure from your foot to send brake fluid to the brake pads. Too much air in the system will hinder this action, requiring you to press the brake pedal harder to get any pressure.

The fix to this problem is bleeding the brakes by opening the bleed nipple located on each brake caliper, which lets the excess air out.

Burning Odor and Smoke

A burning scent following prolonged periods of hard braking can point to overheated brakes. In this case, you should immediately pull over and allow them to cool in order to prevent the brake fluid from reaching its boiling point, resulting in total brake failure. Smoke coming from the wheels could mean that the brakes have heated enough to get stuck. You’ll want to refrain from driving the car and take it to get serviced before further damage is done.

Since your Chevy’s braking system is crucial to safe driving, give Jim Turner Chevrolet a call today and schedule an appointment with our expert service department, so we can take care of any issue!

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