It’s generally recommended to have your brakes serviced every six months, and your brake fluid flushed every two years. But even with regular maintenance, components of a car’s braking mechanism occasionally need repair or replacement in-between servicing visits. If you ever detect the following four issues, it’s best to visit your local Ford dealer for brake repair before the problem worsens.
Sudden Brake Fade
Brakes can overheat when they’re used continually for long periods of time. When brake pads and rotors reach a high-enough temperature, a strange phenomenon occurs called brake fade. This is where the brake pads suddenly lose traction, and your car won’t be stopping as promptly when you press the brake pedal.
Brake fade is usually temporary, so if you pull over and allow your car to cool down, your brake should resume ordinary function. But if the problem persists, have a technician examine your brakes. Heavy traffic and mountainous terrain are examples of brake-heavy conditions that sometimes lead to brake fade.
Leaking Brake Fluid
The hoses in your braking mechanism are filled with just the right amount of brake fluid to create a high level of hydraulic pressure. This hydraulic pressure allows your foot on the pedal to stop your car.
If your brake fluid ever leaks, the hoses of at least one of your wheel’s brakes will lose hydraulic pressure. As a result, your brakes will feel spongy and won’t be as responsive as usual. It’s dangerous to drive with leaking fluid. If you suspect a leak, pull over and look for a yellow or brown fluid leaking under your car.
Pulsating Vibrations
Rotor discs can sometimes become damaged, especially when overheating. If your rotors become warped out of shape or scored, you’ll probably feel a rhythmic vibration through the brake pedal. You’ll need to have a technician resurface or replace the faulty rotor.
Scraping or Squealing Sounds
Brake pads only tend to last 20,000 to 30,000 miles, depending on how much you’re using them. When a brake pad is on its last legs, you’ll usually hear a high-pitched squealing sound, or perhaps scraping and grinding if the upper friction layer is altogether gone.
How Your Ford Dealer Checks Your Brakes
Proper brake inspection requires raising the vehicle in order to remove the wheels. The rotors, brake pads, and calipers are all individually taken off and examined. The hoses and fluid levels are also checked. Apart from keeping you safe on the road, an advantage of periodical brake servicing is that the technician can let you know how much time your brake pads have left.
Visit Joe Mahan Ford today to have your brakes repaired by experienced professionals. Our dealership has been proudly providing for the drivers of our local community since 1974.
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