Damaged or worn brakes can make ever short distance driving dangerous. If your brakes aren’t working as well as they should, it’s time for a brake repair. As your Chevy dealer in Washington Township, MI, we’d like you to know more about some of the brake problems we can fix for you.
3 Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Chevy Dealer
Your Brake Pads Are Glazed
Brake pads generate friction against the wheel rotors, and this friction causes your wheel to stop. The friction is possible due to a special friction material covering each pad. This material is 1/2″ thick when your pads are new, but it slowly wears off as you use your brakes. The material covering can also be damaged if the pads are kept in contact with the rotors for too long.
When you ride your brakes, the brake pads are positioned very close to the rotors. As these pads skim the rotor surface, their friction covering starts to change. The material becomes flat and smooth, and these glazed pads can’t generate friction anymore. The lack of friction reduces your braking speed and places extra strain on the braking system. We can replace the glazed pads to fix this problem.
Vibrations When You Brake
When you brake, the brake calipers should grab the smooth surface of the wheel rotors. The pads generate friction against the rotor which stops your car. If you’re experiencing vibrations each time you brake, you could have damage to one or more wheel rotors. The vibrations are due to the calipers grabbing an uneven surface.
The smooth rotor surface can be damaged by bad brake pads, age, or rust. Rust can develop due to the rotor’s exposure to water and mud. As time passes, the rotors can start to rust, and this makes grabbing the surface more difficult for the calipers. Damaged brake pads can score the surface of a rotor, creating grooves that cause vibrations when the calipers grab them. We’ll examine your rotors, and we can fit new ones if they’re damaged.
Chemical Smells From the Brakes
Harsh chemical smells when you hit the brakes could be a sign that your brake fluid is overheating. Brake fluid is highly pressurized, and pressure creates heat. If you’ve been braking frequently, for example, driving on congested roads, the start-stop movement keeps the brake fluid in the hoses. The fluid will heat up and produce a nasty chemical smell.
We advise pulling over as soon as it’s safe to and allowing the brakes to cool down. Once the brakes have cooled, call us, and our technicians will investigate and fix the problem.
If you have a brake problem, call us right away at Heidebreicht Chevrolet.
