Expert Brake Repair Services at Your Buick Dealer

It’s important to have a proactive attitude toward the upkeep of your car’s brakes. This means maintaining your brakes in tip-top condition rather than just waiting for problems to develop before seeing a technician for brake repair. During routine brake servicing at your local Buick dealership, the technician can identify issues early on and nip them in the bud. Let’s look in more detail at what thorough brake servicing entails and how frequently you should have it carried out.

Expert Brake Repair Services at Your Buick Dealer

How Frequently Should You Have Brake Servicing?

It’s generally recommended to have the entire braking system of your car inspected by a professional once or twice a year, depending on how much strain your brakes undergo every day. You can check your owner’s manual for more guidance on this and also ask for advice at your local Buick dealership.

Do You Use Your Brakes More Than Most Drivers?

After a few inspections, the technician will also gain a picture of how much pressure you tend to put on your brakes. Some drivers use their brakes far more than others, causing premature wear and tear. Brake-heavy driving habits such as riding the brakes, using higher gears than necessary, driving too closely behind other vehicles, and towing heavy trailers can all lead to more frequent brake repairs.

Daily commutes in gridlock urban traffic can also overburden a car’s brakes. Winding hilly roads with plenty of sharp corners have a similar negative effect, as do steep mountainous roads with long downhill stretches. If any of the above reflect your ordinary driving habits or conditions, you might need to have brake servicing two, three, or even four times a year. Your Buick dealer can help you to figure this out.

What a Full Brake Inspection Entails

During each brake inspection, the technician will check the level and condition of your brake fluid and top it up or flush and replace it as required. They’ll raise your car to access the undercarriage and examine the master cylinder, anti-lock braking (ABS) system, and brake lines for signs of damage or leaking brake fluid.

The wheels will be removed along with the brake pads, rotors, and calipers so that each brake component can be checked for damage or excessive wear and tear. They’ll also run a diagnostic to test the ABS and brake sensor, and also test your car’s overall braking power.

The Five Most Common Types of Brake Repair

During each inspection, the technician at your Buick dealer may encounter one or more of the following problems. They’ll then promptly carry out brake repairs or part replacements.

Worn-Out Brake Pads

Every time you use your brakes, the calipers press the brake pads against the rotors, generating the friction required to slow your car. The upper friction layer of each brake pad is typically formed of a compound of organic, semi-organic, or semi-metallic materials bound together by resin. As sturdy as this friction layer is, it gradually wears down and eventually needs to be replaced.

Brake pads can last as little as 30,000 miles and as much as 70,000 miles, depending on how much you use your brakes. Your technician can keep an eye on your pads and let you know when they’re likely to wear out. Once almost finished, a brake pad will usually emit a squealing noise. If you don’t replace a brake pad in time, you might hear heavy grinding as the bare pad’s metal casing scrapes directly against the rotor.

Scored or Warped Rotors

Rotors are flat, smooth discs of cast iron or sometimes ceramic in higher-end cars. They’re remarkably durable and can generally be expected to last a lot longer than brake pads. However, sometimes a rotor can become prematurely damaged by overheating or a worn-out brake pad, in which case a technician at your local Buick dealership will either resurface or replace the rotor.

Overheating can sometimes occur when the brakes are used without pause for prolonged periods. When overheating, rotors and pads can reach incredible temperatures, becoming hot enough to melt the brake pads and soften the rotors. Once softened, overheated rotors can begin to warp out of shape; they also become more easily damaged by the pads. If you ever suspect overheating brakes, pull over at once to avoid brake failure and the need for extensive brake repair.

Brake Fluid Leaks

One of the most important things for a technician to check is the quality and level of your brake fluid. This fluid maintains essential hydraulic pressure, allowing the calipers to respond instantly to your foot on the brake pedal. Brake fluid can become contaminated by moisture and air over time and will usually need to be flushed every two or three years; once again, check your owner’s manual for guidance on this.

If the master cylinder or brake lines ever spring a leak, your car is in urgent need of brake repair. It’s never wise to drive with a suspected brake fluid leak as your stopping power will be reduced. Two warning signs of leaking brake fluid are a spongy feeling to the brake pedal and a clear yellow or brown fluid puddling under your car, often close to the wheels.

Stuck Brake Calipers

Brake calipers are required to clamp the brake pads against the rotors. Calipers can occasionally become stuck, which might cause your car to pull to one side when you brake. If a stone or loose bolt or clip becomes trapped in a caliper, you might also hear a grinding or clattering sound.

Malfunctioning Brake Boosters

The brake booster enhances the force exerted when you press on the brake pedal, boosting the stopping signal delivered to the calipers. It works much in the same way that power steering makes it easier to turn your steering wheel. If your brake booster malfunctions, your brake pedal will suddenly feel harder to press, making it more difficult to use your brakes and stop your car.

Visit Auffenberg of Carbondale in Carbondale, IL, today to have your brakes thoroughly inspected and repaired by qualified professionals. We provide a broad range of high-quality new and pre-owned vehicles along with a convenient, hassle-free car purchasing or servicing experience.