Time for a Brake Repair? Visit Your Amsterdam Ford Dealer

Brakes are one of those components that most drivers don’t think about. It’s assumed that they will always work exactly when you need them to. Parts can wear out or get damaged, and these faults might not be noticeable. You will, however, see progressive problems with your brakes if they’ve been damaged. As your Ford dealer, we’re the first choice when you need a brake repair in Amsterdam. We have the technicians, technology, and spares to fix any braking problem very quickly.

Vibration When You Brake

When you apply the brakes, they should work almost immediately and quietly. If you’re experiencing vibration through the steering wheel when you use the brakes, you have a brake problem. When you jam on the brakes, the calipers are forced against the wheel rotors by hydraulic pressure from the brake fluid. This is the process that brings your car to a stop.

Vibrations could be caused by worn brake pads, damaged wheel rotors, or uneven wear on the brakes. If one of the pads is more worn than the other, more pressure will be applied by the less worn pad. This unbalanced braking will cause a vibration. Damaged wheel rotors will also cause vibrations as the pads attempt to grab an uneven surface.

Visible Damage

You can see part of the braking system by looking through the wheel spokes. The wheel rotors, calipers, and brake pads are all visible. The wheel rotors should be flat and unmarked. If they have a blue tinge, this means your rotors are subjected to excessive heat. Riding the brakes is one cause, as this entails keeping one foot on the brake when driving. The brake pads are kept in almost constant contact with the rotors which can cause damage.

Other possible issues include gouging or deep scratches on the surface of the rotors. The marks that the brake pads have worn out and the metal pads are wearing down the rotors. You’ll also be able to see the positions of the calipers, which should sit above the rotors but not be in contact with them. If a caliper is partially in contact with a rotor, this means the caliper is damaged.

Increased Stopping Distance

When you hit the brakes, you expect the brakes to stop very quickly. If your car is taking longer to stop than it should, this can be a sign of worn rotors. If the rotors are worn, for example by riding the brakes or due to driving with worn-out brake pads, the surface of the rotors may have grooves worn into them.

These grooves will make it more difficult for the calipers to clamp onto the rotors. The extra time taken to grasp and hold the rotor will give you a longer stopping distance.

If your brakes aren’t working as well as they should, or you see any sign of damage, call us right away at Brown’s Ford of Amsterdam. Our technicians will investigate, and we can fix the problem.

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