Oct 10, 2023
Close up Charging car battery with electricity trough jumper cables. Car repair concept.

Nothing’s scarier for a driver than unresponsive brakes while traveling at speed. Fortunately, such a hair-raising experience is only likely to occur if the driver neglects their brakes and allows minor problems to persist and worsen. With this in mind, always look out for the following early warning signs of brake trouble and have any necessary brake repair carried out at once at your local Chevy dealer. 

6 Signs Your Chevy Needs a Brake Repair

Leaking Brake Fluid

Brake fluid maintains essential hydraulic pressure inside the brake hoses. If a leak allows the fluid to escape, this hydraulic pressure is diminished or lost. As a result, the brake pedal can no longer send a proper signal to the calipers, and you may struggle to stop your car. 

Needless to say, a suspected brake fluid leak needs to be repaired immediately. Brake fluid is typically light yellow in color, darkening to brown over time. So if you notice a liquid like this puddling under your car, be very wary of driving until you’ve found and fixed the leak. 

Overheating Pads and Rotors

Overuse of the brakes can cause overheating. Extreme temperatures sometimes cause the brake pads and rotors to develop brake fade, which robs them of stopping power for a short period of time. If you think your brakes aren’t working as promptly as usual, pull over safely and allow the brakes to cool down.

Metallic Grinding Sounds 

Trapped objects or excessively worn-down brake pads can sometimes generate a metallic grinding sound. Grinding may mean that a rotor is getting damaged, so it’s best to have the fault resolved as soon as possible. 

Loud Screeching Sounds

Brake pads may also emit a loud screeching noise when they wear down too far. This irritating but usually harmless sound just means you need to replace the pads soon.

Visibly Worn Out Brake Pads

With most cars, you can crouch to inspect the condition of the brake pads through the spoke of the wheels. If the friction layer looks almost completely gone, it may be time for new pads. 

Vibrating Pedal or Steering Wheel

When a rotor disc becomes damaged or misshapen by heat, pressure, and age, you’ll often feel a vibrating sensation. These rhythmic vibrations can come through both the brake pedal and steering wheel.

How a Chevy Dealer Can Service Your Brakes

In order to service the brakes of your car, the technician will need to raise it. This allows them to remove the wheels and then take off the calipers, rotors, and brake pads to inspect each part in turn. They’ll also examine the brake hoses, the brake pedal, and the brake fluid, topping up or flushing the fluid if necessary. 

Have your brakes inspected and repaired by experienced technicians at Bacon Auto Ranch. We’re a long-standing full-service dealership dedicated to serving local drivers to the best of our abilities with great cars and customer service.