Brake Repair Services at Your Chevy Dealership

A healthy braking system is essential for safe driving, as it allows you to control your speed and stop at any time. As we all know, an accident can happen at any time, and a swift response from the brakes can be the difference between a near miss and a collision. If you have any problem with your brakes, your Chevy dealer can repair it for you. These are a few that you may need our brake repair services.

Screeching Brakes

A high-pitched screeching noise when you brake is an obvious and very audible sign that something is wrong with your brakes. Fortunately, the issue isn’t as serious as it sounds. The noise is caused by worn brake pads. The brake pads fit into the calipers, and a set of calipers is installed above each wheel rotor. When you hit the brakes, the calipers close on the rotors, and the brake pads generate friction and bring your wheels to a stop.

Each brake pad has a 1/2″ thick friction-producing covering. Each time you use your brakes, tiny amounts of this covering wear off. Once the material covering has worn down to 1/4″ thickness, a metal spike built into the pad becomes visible. The next time you apply the brakes, this spike will scratch the rotor surface and produce screeching noises. Visit your Chevy dealer, and we can quickly replace the worn pads, and the noise will cease.

Grinding Noises

If you hear ominous grinding noises when you brake, your braking system is in trouble. These noises are related to the situation above, but they signal a more serious problem.  If the brake pads aren’t replaced when they start to screech, the noise will get louder until the material covering has worn away completely. Once this happens, the bare metal of the brake pads will clamp directly onto the rotors when you brake.

The metal brake pads have sharp edges, and these will scour the smooth rotor surface as they bring your car to a stop. Your car will stop, but the brakes take much longer to work. The metal-on-metal contact produces loud grinding noises, and, if it continues, the scouring effect can seriously damage your rotors. At your Chevy dealer, we replace the brake pads and examine the rotors. If the rotors have been damaged, we may need to resurface them to repair the damage.

Soft Brake Pedal

The braking system contains brake fluid, which is pressurized when you step on the brake pedal. High pressure is essential in the braking system, as this pressure forces the system to work and stop the weight of your car even when it’s traveling at speed. You can feel the pressure build in the braking system, as the pedal will produce more resistance the harder you step on it.

If you step on the pedal and it feels spongy and easy to move, this is known as a soft brake pedal. It’s a serious problem, as the lack of resistance means the brake fluid isn’t generating the necessary pressure. The lack of pressure could be caused by a brake fluid leak or an air bubble in the braking system. In either case, your brakes will be very slow to respond. We’ll identify the cause of the problem and repair it.

Pulling to One Side

When you jam on the brakes, all four calipers will close on the rotors simultaneously to bring your Chevy to a controlled stop. If you feel your car pulls to one side when you brake, you need to visit us for a brake repair ASAP. The pulling movement is caused by one of the calipers failing to grab and stop its rotor. This causes your car to turn in the direction of the working brakes until they bring your car to a stop.

The two main causes of this issue are a jammed caliper or a blockage in the brake hose leading to the affected caliper. A caliper can jam due to a build-up of rust on its surface. Rust is a gradual process, but eventually, the caliper won’t move when you brake. A blockage in the brake hose prevents the brake fluid from forcing the caliper to close when it needs to. Our technicians can replace the jammed caliper or clear the blocked house to solve this problem.

Foul Burning Smell

If you smell a harsh chemical smell when you brake, your brake fluid could be overheating. As we saw above, the brake fluid is kept under high pressure to allow the system to work effectively. High pressure generates heat, and if you’re riding your brakes, for example, when you’re driving down a winding slope, the fluid can overheat.

If the brake fluid overheats, it can boil and produce gas bubbles in the braking system. These bubbles will migrate through the hoses and brake lines and can block the flow of fluid. Overheated brake fluid also can’t supply the necessary hydraulic pressure, and your brakes won’t work correctly. We recommend pulling over and calling us ASAP, as we can provide the brake repair needed to fix this problem.

Leaking Fluid

The heat and pressure in the braking system can cause wear and tear on the hoses and brake lines over time, and this can cause leaks. A brake fluid leak is difficult to spot, as brake fluid is slightly yellow and looks similar to cooking oil. While you might not see the leak, you’ll feel its effects as the pressure in the braking system will drop, and the brakes will become less responsive.

We don’t advise driving with a brake fluid leak, as the lack of fluid can cause your brake to fail at any time. The expert technicians at your Chevy dealer have the knowledge and technology to easily trace this type of fluid leak and then permanently ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​seal it. Once the leak is sealed, we’ll refill your brake fluid, and the system will work efficiently again.

If you need a brake repair, call us right away at Auffenberg Chevrolet Buick GMC in Farmington, MO.