Modern cars are more than twice as powerful as 40 years ago. To match this increase in speed, the power of brakes has also more than doubled. Ford brakes today are more reliable and have more stopping force than ever before, but even the toughest of braking mechanisms wear down over time. If you ever notice the following five warning signs, visit your local Ford dealership for brake repair without delay.
Strange Sounds When Braking
Any high-pitched screeching when you brake isn’t necessarily something to worry about. Brake pads are designed to make this noise when it’s time to replace them.
A metallic grinding sound would be more of a concern. Grinding often means the friction layer of a brake pad has worn away completely, and now metal is scraping directly on the metal of your rotors.
Odd Sensations While Braking
When rotors become damaged, they create vibrations that you can often feel through the brake pedal and sometimes through the steering wheel. It might be possible to mend the damaged rotor with resurfacing, but if it’s too old, you’ll need to install a new one.
Rhythmic pulses could also mean a drum brake has become misaligned. This is usually an easier problem to fix without requiring a replacement.
Sluggish Response When Braking
If you’re pressing the pedal, but the car isn’t slowing as it should, then your brakes might be overheating. Too much non-stop braking can cause so much overheating that the stopping friction is temporarily lost.
If your brakes ever become less responsive, pull over and see if they return to normal after cooling down. If they don’t, have a technician take a look.
Spongy Pedal When Braking
A soft, spongy feeling to the brake pedal often means that one of the brake hoses is leaking brake fluid. If this happens, hydraulic power is lost, and so your foot can’t send the stopping signal to the brake mechanism properly.
It’s exceedingly dangerous to drive with leaking brake fluid. Have it repaired as soon as you can.
Tugging to One Side When Braking
When a single rotor, caliper, or brake hose develops a problem, stopping power is only reduced on that side of the car. As a result, your car might pull to that side as you try to slow down your car.
Have Brake Servicing Often at Your Ford Dealer
Brakes should generally be serviced twice a year to remain safe on the roads. And brake fluid needs to be flushed every two years.
If you’re frequently carrying or towing heavy loads, then you’ll need to have your brakes checked more often. That also goes for frequent driving in brake-heavy environments such as hilly terrain or heavy urban traffic.
Visit Freeway Ford today to have your brakes returned to perfect condition. We offer a first-class vehicle servicing or purchasing experience, whatever your needs may be.
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