Brake servicing is an important part of your Ford maintenance. Well-maintained brakes will respond quickly and bring your car to a stop almost immediately. Worn or damaged brake components increase the chances of an accident when you’re driving, as your brakes won’t respond as they should. As your Ford dealer, we’d like you to know some signs that you need to visit us for a brake repair.
Soft Brake Pedal
The braking system depends on high pressure to work effectively. Pressure is essential, as the braking system must bring the weight of your car to a complete stop when it’s moving at speed. When you step on the brake pedal, you’ll feel resistance, which grows as you exert more pressure. If you step on the pedal and feel very little resistance, there’s a problem with your brakes.
The lack of resistance could be caused by an air bubble in the brake hose, or it could be due to a brake fluid leak. In either case, the lack of pressure means your braking system will respond more slowly and less effectively. This can easily be the difference between a near miss and a collision. We’ll examine your braking system and fix the problem.
Screeching Noises
If you hear high-pitched screeching noises when you brake, the most likely cause is worn brake pads. The brake pads fit into the calipers and generate friction against the wheel rotors when the calipers are forced against them when you brake. Each pad has a friction material covering that slowly wears off. When most of this material has worn off, your pads are due for replacement.
When the friction material on a pad has worn down, a metal spike inside the pad becomes visible. The spike will scratch against the rotor surface when you brake and produce a screeching sound. The spike doesn’t damage the rotor, but it does warn you that it’s time to get new pads. We can quickly replace any damaged pads, and the noises will stop.
Pulling to One Side
When you brake, all four wheels should come to a stop at the same time. If you brake and your car pulls to one side, this is a sign of trouble with your brakes. Your car will turn as one of the brakes fails to engage, and its wheel continues to move until it’s brought to a stop by the other three wheels.
The most common reason for a brake failure to engage is either a damaged caliper or a blockage in the hose leading to the affected caliper. Our technicians will examine the caliper and fix the problem.
If you have a problem with your brakes, call our service department ASAP at Bob-Boyd Ford.
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