When to Hit the Brakes: Top Brake-Breaking Habits You Should Avoid Right Away

Faulty brakes are among the most common causes of road traffic accident. When the rotor suddenly cracks, the pads are too thin, or the brake fluids have dried up, figuring in a pileup is a huge possibility. Normally, however, the damage your car’s brake system has sustained prior to brake failure did not exist abruptly. It’s very likely a result of a series of events, which have to do with your bad driving habits. Here are some of the brake-breaking habits that every driver has to minimize if not avoid altogether.

Braking with the Left Foot

All drivers were taught to use their left foot for the clutch and the right for the throttle and brake. Some, however, find this inconvenient especially when there’s a need to move the right foot between the throttle and brake pedals abruptly. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2M1NPQs.

Are Your Brakes Going Bad?—These Are the Signs that You Need a New Set at Once

Today’s cars are equipped with over a dozen safety features, all of which are designed to reduce, if not completely prevent, the physical injuries you could sustain when accident occurs. Of all these features, however, the most critical is the brake system, and it’s quite easy to understand why.

When a car traveling over 60 miles per hour suddenly hits a stationary object, like a post or a tree, the impact can generate enough force to throw your body several meters to the front of the vehicle at almost the same velocity, assuming you’re not wearing any seatbelt. And even if you are wearing your seatbelt, your body will still be subjected to such a massive force. By stepping on the break at least 100 yards before you hit the object, all that force will be reduced to 0 because it’s just about the leeway needed to get your car to slowly come to a standstill. All that force can be absorbed in a few seconds, saving your life and the lives of your passengers.

This is why it is important to always check the condition of your brake system before you hit the road, and when you notice something strange, you have to deal with it right away. Here are some signs that your car’s brakes are going bad and you have to replace them right away. Read more from this article: http://www.mcloughlinchevy.com/blog/2018/april/12/are-your-brakes-going-bad-these-are-the-signs-that-you-need-a-new-set-at-once.htm.

Signs that You Need to Visit the Car Shop to Replace Your Brakes in Portland

The brakes in Portland registered cars are responsible for stopping the car before a collision occurs. When it ceases to function the way it should, major accidents can happen. This is why paying regular attention to the state of your car’s brakes is a priority.

Here are the warning signs that you need to head over to an auto repair shop to get your brakes replaced immediately: 

#1: Softness or Reduced Responsiveness

When you notice that the brakes feel “squishy” or have hardly any resistance when stepped on, you need to pull over at once. This is an indication that there is a leak in the brake system either as an air leak or a brake fluid leak. Continuing to drive with brakes that are no longer responsive will put you and everyone else on the road in danger. Get the problem fixed right away. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2pYFenh

Important Tips to Remember for Giving Your Car Brakes Proper Care

Your car brakes are among the few components that keep each of your road trips safe. They require proper care in order to work properly whenever you hit the road. Also with proper care, your car can last longer before needing professional maintenance. On the other hand, if you neglect your brakes, you are putting yourself and your family at risk of accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 22 percent of road traffic collisions are caused by faulty brakes. Below are some tips on taking care of car brakes that you should know.

Pay Attention to the Noise

Things can get a bit noisy in the car, especially when you’re speeding down the road. Among the common sources of noise are cargo rolling inside the trunk and lose parts rattling within the engine. However, there are certain cases wherein the noise is caused by damage on the brakes. This is a kind of noise that you should never disregard.

Piercing noises, rubbing, squealing, grinding, screeching, and other similar noises that occur as you step on the brake pad could indicate the need to fully inspect the brakes and perform the necessary repair before you hit the road again. At most, this could mean that the pads are worn out and need immediate replacing before the damage spreads and cause the whole suspension system to snap.

“Lowered” Brake Pedal

You shouldn’t have any problems reaching the brake pedal with your foot, so if you do, then there’s something wrong with it. This is something that you shouldn’t ignore for later because it  can affect the brakes’ performance. If you’re not able to stop your car in time, the likelihood of hitting something or someone on the road is going to be high.

Burning Smell

Burning smell often indicates irregular spike in temperature within the engine, but this could also mean damage to the braking system. Friction may be taking place in areas where it’s not supposed to. Not dealing with it at the soonest possible time can lead to even bigger problems down the road.

Steering Wheel Signals

It may seem like they are unconnected but actually your steering wheel can tell you a thing or two about the state of your car brakes. Any irregular vibrations or pulsations on your steering wheel could be caused by a problem with the rotors, which could ultimately affect your braking system. The damage can then spread quickly from there, costing you a lot more in repairs or even replacement.

Check Brake Warning Light

The easiest way to determine if there is a problem with your brakes is to check your brake warning light. As long as your gauges and warning lights are working fine, you can pretty much rely on its signal when it tells you that your brakes are having a problem. In this situation, don’t wait any longer to visit a trusted car service brake center, like McLoughlin Chevrolet, so that you can address the issue right away.

About McLoughlin Chevrolet:

McLoughlin Chevrolet is your trusted neighborhood car dealership and service provider. We make it our mission to not only provide you with good quality cars, whether brand new or second-hand, but also to assist you in finding good financing deals so you can get a good car loan even if you have bad credit.

Sources:

Brake Safety Awareness Month: Stop and Check Your Vehicle’s Most Important System. CarCare.org.

Know the Signs & Stay Ahead of Brake Problems. FirestoneCompleteAutoCare.com.

5 Common Warning Signs That Show You Need to Have Your Brakes Checked

It is no secret that your brake system is one of the most important aspects of your vehicle. As such, it is incredibly important that you have an experienced mechanic take a look at your brake system regularly to help prevent excessive damage. Additionally, any damage to your brakes should be repaired ASAP. The question is knowing when to see your mechanic.

People who own more modern vehicles are often alerted by a “check brakes” light if there is a problem with any part of the brake system. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t common among older vehicles, which can make it difficult to know when there’s an issue with the brakes. However, you can easily detect various warning signs your brakes will exhibit if there is a problem with them. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2BvsHgK

3 Simple Habits That Can Help Prolong the Life of Your Brand New Brakes

It’s no secret that your car brakes are the most important safety feature in your vehicle, and should regularly be checked for any issues. After all, issues with your car brakes (squealing sound, slow response, etc) present a significant safety hazard for you, your passengers, and other drivers around you.

If you have recently had your brakes replaced, it’s only natural to want to make sure that they last longer this time around. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to help you extend the service life of your newly installed brakes. With that in mind, try to implement the following changes to your driving habits to help keep your brakes working in top condition for years to come:

Keep Your Foot Off the Brakes

Traffic jams are a common sight throughout Portland at any given time. As you sit in your car waiting to move, you may find that you keep your foot down on the brake pedal. Although this does help prevent you from moving forward, the fact that you have your foot on the brake pedal puts unnecessary pressure on your brakes, which can easily thin out your brake pads faster. If your car is stopped, it’s best to pull up your handbrake and keep your foot off the pedal. Read more from this article: http://bit.ly/2AV9Hu9

Taking Care of Your Brakes So That They Can Take Care of You on the Road

It’s every driver’s nightmare: you’re speeding down the road but when you step on the brake, you still don’t slow down. Needless to say, the events that could potentially follow from this failure of brakes can be severe and devastating.

As a responsible car owner and driver, it is ultimately up to you to ensure that your vehicle is functioning as optimally as it should—especially the brakes. Don’t get caught in this unpleasant situation; know about the basic care tips for car brakes so you can always stay in control.

Low Brake Pedal

Having low brake pedals can make it difficult for you to activate its functionality. Among the common causes for this situation include worn out brake linings, fluid leaks, or sometimes when adjusters stick to the normal lining wear.

If you’ve been noticing that your brake pedal is unusually low, try adjusting it back to its normal height. Even if you do get it back up, though, it still would be advisable for you to bring it to a professional car shop so that the problem does not become recurrent.

Sinking Pedal

Like the low brake pedal, this kind of problem has to do with preventing you from having direct access to the brakes. If the pedal keeps sinking to the floor, then you will have to keep reaching in order to get the brake to bite. Regardless if you have long or short legs, this is going to be problematic because you’re not getting the mechanical response that you need, when you need it.

This issue is most likely due to a hydraulics leak or a failing master cylinder. These are major parts by themselves so it’s not advisable for you to take these matters in your own hands. Let a professional mechanic fix it right up for you.

Brake Fluid Level

This one is pretty easy to spot and remedy. If you observe leaks from your vehicle, and it does turn out to be brake fluid, bring your vehicle to the shop immediately to get the leak patched up. Then the brake fluid will be refilled, and you can go back to using it.

Brake Pedal Misalignment

Do your feet sometimes slip when stepping on the brakes? Give it a good look—maybe the brakes have become loose and now are pulling to one side. This could pose serious safety risks, especially when you’re stepping on the brakes fast. The misalignment could be caused by calliper or cylinder wheel issues, contaminated linings, loose wheel bearings, among others. Sometimes, you’ll also notice a sort of pulsation on the pedal, an indication that there is warping on the brake rotor.

Proper adjustments can easily fix this problem for you. In certain instances, it is found that the brake pedals need replacing. This is why it’s important to go to a shop that caters specifically to the kind of vehicle you have. GM car and truck owners in Portland, for example, can go to GM-centric service shops, such as McLoughlin Chevy.

Sources:

Know the Signs & Stay Ahead of Brake Problems. FirestoneCompleteAutoCare.com.

Common Brake Problems and How to Fix Them. Autos.com.

Heed these Telltale Signs that Your Brakes are Going Bad, then Bring Them in for Repair

In a study published in 2015, the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey ranks faulty brakes as the No. 2 reason for vehicular accidents in the U.S. Brake-related accidents account for a whopping 22%-37% of all car crashes in the country, from the year 2005 to 2007. Therefore, the importance of brake maintenance cannot be stressed enough to today’s car owners.

Many owners tend to focus solely on the engine while forgetting that parts in the brake system also serve a finite life span. Regular brake maintenance improves your chances of detecting a problem that can later cost you dearly in repairs and injury.

However, aside from maintenance, you can deter catastrophe by learning some signals from your brakes that they are wearing out. Read more from this blog. http://bit.ly/2rmN5ut