Your brakes are your Chevy’s number one safety feature. For this reason, brakes are probably the most important part of your car to maintain well. In addition to regular brake servicing at your local Chevy dealer, keep an eye out for the following signs of trouble. If any of them occur, take your car in for brake repair right away.
7 Signs Your Chevy Needs a Brake Repair
Spongy Brakes
The most urgent indication of brake problems is spongy breaks. This is when you press on the pedal and it feels like pressing a spring with your foot.
Spongy braking most often means there’s a problem with your brake hoses. A leak has allowed air in, reducing hydraulic pressure. Or a hose might have started to bulge, with much the same effect. Never drive with spongy brakes, as it can quickly develop into full-blown brake failure.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Brake fluid has both anti-corrosion and hydraulic properties. If this fluid leaks, your brakes are in trouble. With hydraulic pressure reduced in just one of your brakes, your car will no longer stop as rapidly.
If you notice brake fluid dripping under your car or gathering in the wheel wells, get it repaired as soon as possible. The color of brake fluid is amber when fresh, and tan or brown when older.
Clicking Sounds
The calipers hold the braking mechanism together, clamping the pads to the rotors each time you slow down or stop. Calipers are built to withstand a huge amount of pressure but occasionally something can work its way loose.
If you hear an odd clicking sound when braking, one of your calipers might have a screw loose. When a screw, clip, pin, or bolt loosens, it often gets stuck in the mechanism, causing the clicking sound.
Squeaky Sounds
You might be familiar with the strange squeaky sound that brakes can sometimes make. This often indicates a worn-out brake pad that needs to be replaced.
Grinding Sounds
When a brake pad wears down too thin, the upper friction layer disappears altogether. All that’s left is metal to scrape on the iron or ceramic of the rotor discs. This creates an unpleasant grinding sound.
Pedal Vibrations
If rotors become damaged by worn-down pads or warped while overheating, the surface becomes uneven. You’ll then feel vibrations through your foot on the pedal. A damaged rotor should always be resurfaced or replaced quickly.
Burning Smells
Overheating brakes can sometimes emit a distinctive burning smell. If you smell burning while braking a lot, pull over to allow your brakes to cool down.
Have Brakes Serviced at Your Local Chevy Dealer
Chevy drivers should have their brakes inspected and serviced once every six months. If you frequently carry heavy loads or drive in terrain that requires more than ordinary braking, you might want to have your brakes serviced every three months, just to be safe.
Visit J.H. Barkau & Sons Automobiles today to have your brakes inspected and repaired. We’re a family-owned and run dealership that’s been providing for the area’s Chevy drivers for over 65 years.
