Brakes are one of your car’s most important safety features. They allow you to control your speed and stop whenever you need or want to. In time, parts can break or get damaged, and you’ll need a brake repair. If you’re having a problem with your brakes, your Toyota dealer can help. These are some reasons you may need to have your brakes checked.
Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Toyota Dealer
Worn Brake Pads
Your braking system depends on friction to slow and stop your car. The brake pads fit inside the calipers, and the calipers are pushed against your wheel rotors when you apply the brakes. The pads have a thick friction material covering, which produces friction when it’s in contact with the smooth rotor’s surface. Each time you use your brakes, part of the friction material flakes off.
The friction material covering on a brake pad is 1/2″ thick when it’s new. This will degrade over time, and when the pad reaches 1/4″ thickness, it’s time for replacements. As a reminder, you’ll hear a high-pitched screeching from the thin pads each time you brake. Replacing pads is quick, and our technicians can do this while you wait and enjoy a hot coffee.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Brake fluid provides the power that’s required to stop your car. It exerts hydraulic pressure on the brake calipers, which forces them against the wheel rotors. Your braking system is highly-pressurized, which can turn even a small leak into a problem. Brake fluid can leak from various places, including rusted brake lines, worn hoses, or a crack in the brake fluid reservoir.
As fluid leaks out, the pressure in the braking system will drop. This pressure drop will make it difficult to apply your brakes. Our technicians are highly trained in finding and plugging leaks, and can swiftly trace the problem. Once the leak is identified, we’ll repair it and refill your brake fluid.
Soft Pedal
A brake pedal should provide resistance when you step on it, and the resistance should increase as you apply more pressure. The resistance is generated by pressurized brake fluid. If you step on the pedal and feel little resistance, you have a brake problem.
The lack of resistance from the pedal could be caused by a brake fluid leak, as we saw above. It could also be caused by an air bubble in the braking system. The brake system is sealed, but air can find its way into anything over time. An air bubble can form on the brake hose and prevent the fluid from generating the required pressure. Our technicians will need to investigate to find the problem.
Don’t risk driving with worn or damaged brakes. Call us today at Rochester Toyota.
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