Good brakes are essential in helping to prevent accidents. When your brakes work effectively, they allow you to reduce your speed in seconds, which can mean the difference between a near-miss and a collision. Over time, brake components become worn or damaged and you’ll need a brake repair at your Chevy dealer. These are a few signs that you could have a brake problem.
Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Chevy Dealer
Vibrations When You Brake
When you hit the brakes, your brakes should bring your Chevy to a smooth stop. If you experience vibrations as you brake, you have a brake problem. These vibrations are caused by damage to the wheel rotors, which are the flat disks you can just behind your tires. When you brake, the brake calipers squeeze each of the rotors. This action generates friction, and the friction stops your wheels.
In time, the rotors can develop an irregular surface due to the metal’s expansion and contraction as it heats and then cools down. When the calipers grab a less-than-smooth section of a rotor, this action generates vibrations you’ll feel through either the steering wheel or the brake pedal. We’ll examine your rotors, and we can resurface them to make them smooth again.
Grinding Noises
Grinding noises from the brakes are very unnerving, and they’re a sign that something is wrong. There are two main causes of these sounds, debris trapped in one of the calipers or worn brake pads. As we’ve seen, the brake calipers bring your wheels to a stop by grabbing the rotors. A stone or other hard object could be lodged inside a caliper, which creates noises each time the caliper operates.
Worn brake pads will also generate grinding noises. The brake pads have a friction-generating material cover that gradually wears down. The pads will make screeching noises when they need replacement. If the pads aren’t replaced, their material covering will eventually wear off completely. When this happens, the metal pads will grind against the rotors and damage them. We’ll identify the cause of the grinding noise and fix the problem.
Turning to One Side
When your brakes are in good condition, the individual calipers operate simultaneously to bring your car to a stop. If you experience the strange sensation of your car pulling to one side, this means that one of your calipers has failed. In response, your car will automatically turn towards the side that has a working brake.
A caliper could fail to engage if it’s rusted or damaged. It can also fail if there is a blockage in the brake hose leading to that caliper. A blockage prevents the brake fluid from exerting the necessary hydraulic pressure to force the caliper to close. Our technicians will investigate and repair the cause of the problem.
To drive safely, you need good brakes. Call our service department today at Pioneer Chevrolet.
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