Your safety behind the wheel of your Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Durango, or RAM 1500 should be your top priority. That’s why regular maintenance is of the utmost importance to ensure that your vehicle’s brakes are in excellent working condition. Below are ways to tell when it’s time for a brake service from the qualified technicians at your trusted local dealer.
Your Brake Warning Light Is On
When the brake warning light goes on, there could be a serious problem with the brakes, but the light could also indicate that your hand or emergency brake is engaged. If it’s not the hand or emergency brake, get your car to your dealer as soon as possible for proper service and repairs to ensure that your vehicle is safe on the road.
Your Brake Pads Are Worn
If you suspect the pads are worn, check between the wheel spokes. You will see the pads pressed up against the rotors. When brake pads are new, they are between eight to twelve millimeters thick, and if your pads are thinner than 6.4 millimeters, they aren’t effective anymore and must be replaced for your safety.
You Hear Screeching Sounds or Terrible Grinding Noises
When you step on the brake pedal and hear high-pitched squealing or screeching sounds, it comes from a small piece of metal called wear indicators built into the brake pads. The sounds warn you that the pads are wearing thin and need replacing. If you wait too long, you will hear a horrible grinding noise when the pads are worn down completely. The metal grinds against the rotors, making that awful noise, and causing damage to the rotors.
Your Car Is Leaking Brake Fluid
There’s a brake fluid leak if you see yellow or brown puddles, like clean oil but without the oily texture on the ground under your vehicle. When there’s not enough brake fluid, it will affect your vehicle’s braking performance. Ask your service technician to perform an inspection and repair the leak as soon as possible.
Your Brakes Feel Unresponsive
When you brake and your car takes longer to slow down or stop, you need to get your vehicle in for service. Slow brake response could be caused by worn brake pads, low brake fluid, or a leak.
Your Vehicle Pulls to the Side
When you brake and your car pulls to the left or right, it could be dirty brake fluid or uneven brake wear. Brake pads don’t have the same wear rate, and one side might wear down quicker than the other, causing your car to veer to the side.
You Feel Vibrations Through the Brake Pedal
When you step on the brake and feel vibrations through the pedal, the rotors are warped due to age, wear, and hard braking. Severe braking creates tremendous amounts of friction and heat, warping the rotors and causing uneven contact with the brake pads.
You Smell a Burning Odor
If you’ve used the brakes excessively, they’ll overheat, and you’ll begin to smell a burning odor. Pull over when it’s safe and wait for your brakes to cool down. Contact your dealership and ask for assistance.
If you have trouble with your brakes, get your car to your dealership ASAP for your own safety. Contact Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Delaware today and schedule a brake system service to ensure your brakes are in top condition.
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