When it comes to your safety on the road, your brakes are a major component in keeping you out of trouble. The ability to slow down on command is critical, but your brakes are also a major wear item that will need to be inspected and reconditioned periodically. Be sure to keep up with your brake system with regular visits to the service center at Rusty Wallace Cadillac GMC and ensure your vehicle’s safety today!
How Your Brakes Work
As you apply pressure to your brake pedal to begin slowing down, your braking system goes through a series of steps to help slow you down. In some systems, you have a fly-by-wire setup that means your brakes are electronically actuated according to how much pressure you’re putting on the pedal. However, most braking systems are hydraulic, meaning that pressing the pedal causes fluid to become pressurized and contract the calipers to help slow things down. In either system, your caliper clamps your brake pads onto the brake rotor, which spins with your axle. By clamping this brake rotor, it slows down the rotation of your wheels to bring you to a stop. This interaction causes lots of both physical wear and heat between your brake pads and rotors, and these are the components that will need attention the most.
Brake Pad Replacement
The quickest fix for most brake issues will be a brake pad replacement, which is a service that can be performed quickly and easily when you make your way to your GM service center. Our team will get you in and out quickly so you can get back on the road safely. It’s a simple way to ensure your brakes work as planned, but it won’t be the only thing you’ll need to have checked from time to time.
Brake Rotors
As your brake pads interact with your brake rotors, the rotors will absorb the heat and friction as well. While they won’t wear as quickly as your brake pads, your rotors will need to be inspected from time to time in order to maintain a safe driving and stopping experience. Your rotors do a lot of work to absorb and dissipate the heat created by braking, but the less material there is to work with, the harder time they’ll have doing this job well. When this happens, you’ll find your brakes losing effectiveness if you need to brake frequently, such as in stop and go traffic or as you go down a long downward slope. This creates a chain reaction in which things heat up even faster, causing quicker wear, and further heat buildup, until your brakes are effectively useless at slowing you down. So while your brake rotors don’t need to be changed nearly as often as the pads, you’ll still want to ensure they’re in good shape ahead of any longer road trip.
Other Brake Issues
Old brake fluid loses its ability to hold pressure, resulting in a soft brake pedal and uneven braking performance. We’ll change your brake fluid each time we change brake pads, but if you’re experiencing brake issues with no clear cause, this might be a good place to start.
In addition, your brake calipers feature moving parts that can become corroded or rusted over time. Dirt, dust, salt, and other debris can cause issues with your calipers actuating properly, meaning a calper can be stuck closed or open. Neither of these are desired scenarios, and we’ll help get new caliper components installed so you can drive with confidence. Visit our dealership for brake services today!