Healthy brakes are essential, as they give you full control over your car’s speed. In time, parts can become worn or damaged and you’ll need to visit your Buick GMC dealer for a brake repair. These are a few signs you have brake trouble.
Soft Brake Pedal
Brake fluid is kept under high pressure, as the pressure generates the force necessary to stop your car when it’s moving at speed. The fluid forces the pins out of the calipers, which causes the calipers to close on the wheel rotors. The pads inside the calipers generate friction against the rotors, and this brings your wheels to a stop.
You should feel the pressure in the system when you press down on the pedal. The fluid generates resistance which becomes more pronounced as you apply more pressure. If you don’t feel resistance from the pedal, this means there’s a problem in the braking system. The problem could be caused by a fluid leak or a bubble in the braking system that’s blocking the fluid’s movement. We’ll examine your brakes and fix the problem.
Hard Brake Pedal
This issue is the opposite of the situation above. In this case, the brake pedal produces extreme resistance when you step on it. Braking will become very difficult, as you may have to perform the equivalent of a leg press to get your brakes to work. The high resistance is caused by the failure of a component called the brake pedal booster.
The booster uses a vacuum system to reduce the pressure you need to apply to engage your brakes. During a brake service, we check the condition of the booster and make any necessary adjustments or repairs. If the vacuum system is damaged, the booster will automatically fail. Our technicians will check the booster and repair or replace it.
Bad Smell
As we’ve seen, the brake fluid is essential for your braking system. Like the other fluids in your car, it needs to be regularly changed. Older brake fluid becomes less effective at generating hydraulic pressure, and this means your braking system will take longer to engage. Aged brake fluid also loses its heat resistance, and this can cause it to overheat.
When you keep your foot on the brake, the fluid is kept under pressure, and pressure generates heat. The older fluid can start to burn and produce a strong chemical smell. Burning brake fluid provides no hydraulic power, and this will cause your brakes to fail. If you smell burning, we advise pulling over ASAP and allowing the fluid to cool down before driving off again. We’ll drain the old brake fluid and refill it.
If your brakes don’t feel right, visit our service department right away at Sisbarro Buick GMC in Las Cruces, NM.
Connect with us
