A healthy brake system is one of your Ford’s most important safety systems. It gives you complete control over your speed and enables you to slow down or stop whenever you need to. As time passes, braking components will wear or or get damaged, and you’ll need a repair. As your Ford dealership, we’d like you to know a few signs that you need to visit us ASAP for new brakes.
Soft Brake Pedal
The braking system is highly pressurized, and this pressure is essential as your brakes must be able to bring your Ford to a complete stop almost instantly, even when it’s moving at speed. When you push down on the brake pedal, you should feel resistance, and this resistance increases as you exert more pressure on the pedal.
If you feel very little response from the brake pedal, something is wrong. The lack of response could be caused by an air bubble in the system restricting the fluid’s flow or by a brake fluid leak. This problem needs to be investigated and repaired ASAP, as low pressure in the braking system means your brakes will be far less responsive, and this can cause an accident. We’ll locate the source of the fault and repair it.
Glazed Brake Pads
The brake pads fit into the brake calipers, which are located above each of the wheel rotors. When you hit the brakes, the calipers grab the spinning rotors, and the pads generate friction against the rotors. This friction should bring the rotors to a stop within seconds. Once you release the brake pedal, the calipers withdraw.
Glazing occurs when the pads are kept in contact with the rotors for an extended period. This could be due to you riding your brakes, or a faulty caliper might not withdraw completely. In either situation, the pads skim across the rotors, and their friction material covering turns smooth and glass-like. A glazed pad generates no friction, and the brakes become less efficient. We can remedy this situation by removing and replacing the glazed pads.
Brake Fluid Leak
Brake fluid is transported through the system by rubber hoses and metal brake lines. Over time, leaks can develop if your braking system hasn’t been regularly checked. A leak is difficult to notice, as brake fluid is thin, yellowish, and looks like cooking oil. A leak in the system reduces the brake system pressure, which slows down its response time and increases your stopping distance.
We’ll examine your brakes, find the leak source, and permanently seal it. Once the system is airtight, we’ll refill your brake fluid.
Damaged brakes are dangerous. Contact us today at Dowling Ford Inc. in Cheshire, CT, and we’ll fix them for you.
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