Understanding Brake Safety

Although it doesn’t happen often, it can and Freeman Grapevine has seen it: Cars involved in accidents because of brake failures. How do you know that your brakes a failing? If you’ve gone a while between tune ups you are going to want to have your brakes checked ASAP. One leading indicator that your brakes are failing is the feel of the brake pedal. If your car pulls left or right when braking, or if the front end shakes, then these are definite signs of excessive brake wear. If the brake pedal in your car begins to feel spongy, it could be a sign that air has entered the brake system, or fluid is low. Do not ignore these warning signs!

A spongy brake pedal, together with a decrease in brake fluid, may also indicate brake wear, so when you check the brake fluid reservoir, make sure it’s topped off. If not, then brake fluid is most probably remaining at the wheel to fill the space caused by wear. Many vehicles purchased from car auctions experience this kind of problems because of being stocked for a long time in car garage or showrooms. Simply replacing the brake fluid and letting it flow throughout the wheel by pumping the brake pedal a few times before your run the used automobile helps in ensuring safety for you and your passengers.

Many new cars have ABS (Automatic Braking System) which initiates a rapid- fire pumping sequence to the brakes, keeping the car straight during sudden or hard braking. If the ABS light illuminates on your instrument panel, then it’s likely that the wheel sensors have detected excessive build-up of metal particles from the brake system. Most cars are designed to shut down the ABS when excessive particle build-up occurs, but a shutdown ABS does not prevent you from stopping, it just means that the ABS feature isn’t working.

Wheels should be pulled and brakes checked once a year by an experienced brake specialist. At Freeman Grapevine, we have experts who can fit your new car with high quality, high performance braking components. Whether it’s used car or not.

Also keep in mind, brake fluid absorbs moisture in the system and becomes acidic after about two years. Check your owner’s manual or call us to see what kind of brakes your car has and how they are adjusted. .

Remember, how and where you drive will greatly influence when your brakes must be replaced. If you have any questions about your brakes, come and Freeman Grapevine.