The most important safety feature of your GMC is the braking system. Good brakes enable you to respond quickly and to stop almost instantly. Bad brakes, on the other hand, can lead to an accident. As your GMC dealer, we’re concerned for the safety of you and your car. We’d like you to know the signs you need to visit us for a brake repair.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is essential for your braking system, as it provides the hydraulic power that enables the braking system to function. When you step on the brake pedal, pressurized brake fluid is forced into the brake hoses. The brake fluid forces the pins out of the calipers that sit above the wheel rotors, which makes the calipers close on the rotors and stop your car.
A leak in the braking system will quickly reduce the amount of fluid. As the system loses fluid, you’ll experience problems with the braking system. The brake pedal will become softer and less resistant, and the brakes will progressively become slower to respond. If the problem isn’t fixed ASAP, your brakes will fail. We can easily trace a fluid leak and repair it. Once the leak is repaired, we’ll refill the brake fluid.
Pulsing Brake Pedal
A strange pulsing feeling when you hit the brake pedal is a sign of brake trouble. The most common cause of this problem is a warped wheel rotor. As we’ve seen, the calipers close on the rotors and generate friction via the brake pads inside the calipers. The rotors must be completely flat to allow the calipers to close and hold the rotors effectively.
Braking generates heat, and numerous incidents of heating and cooling will eventually take their toll on the rotors. Heating and cooling cause the rotors to warp slightly, and the calipers won’t have a completely flat surface to grip. When a caliper closes on a warped rotor, the uneven surface will cause the brake pedal to pulsate. Our technicians can repair this problem by resurfacing the problem rotor or replacing it.
Pulling to One Side
If your car pulls to one side when you brake, this is a sign of a major brake problem. The braking system is designed so that all four calipers close on the rotors simultaneously. This simultaneous action causes your car to stop instantly. A damaged caliper or a blocked brake hose will prevent one of the calipers from engaging.
If one of the calipers doesn’t engage, your car will automatically turn in the direction of the working caliper. This problem places additional strain on the working calipers and can result in further damage. We can repair this problem, and your brakes will work correctly again.
Driving with worn brakes is dangerous. Call our service department at Finley GMC.
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