Worn or damaged brakes make it difficult for you to stop when you need to. If your brakes aren’t working correctly, this can lead to an accident. As your Buick dealer, we’re concerned for your safety. We’d like to give you some tips on signs that you need to visit us for a brake repair.
Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Buick Dealer
Leaking Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is vital for your braking system as it provides the hydraulic power that engages your brakes. A lack of brake fluid will reduce the power in the system and increase the braking time. As the system loses more fluid, your brakes will become less responsive and can fail. This is a very scary situation, and it makes finding and fixing a leak very important.
Brake fluid can leak from several places, including rusted brake lines, worn brake hoses, or a damaged brake fluid reservoir. The first sign you’ll usually experience is a delay when you hit the brakes, and this will become progressively worse. Fortunately, our technicians can swiftly trace a leak and repair it.
Worn Brake Pads
When you apply the brakes, the calipers clamp on both sides of the rotors. The pads inside the calipers then generate friction that stops the wheels from moving. The special friction material covering the pads will slowly wear down each time you use the brakes. When the material thickness has worn down to 1/4″ thick, it’s time to replace the pads.
If the pads aren’t replaced, you’ll hear a sharp screeching noise. This sound is caused by the worn pads, and it is a sign the pads need to be replaced ASAP to prevent damage. Failure to replace the pads will eventually cause the screeching sound to turn into a grinding noise. This sound is made by the metal pads damaging the surface of the rotors. We can quickly replace the pads and examine the system for any other damage that needs repair.
Vibrations When You Brake
If you’re feeling vibrations through the steering wheel when you brake, you could have a problem with one or more rotors. When the calipers grab the rotors, they need a smooth surface for an effective grip. If your pads are starting to wear, they’ll heat up faster than they should. The increased heat liquefies some of the adhesives that attach the friction material to the pads.
The adhesive can smear across a rotor, where it promptly dries in the heat. The dried adhesive will gradually form an irregular surface on the rotor. An irregular rotor surface will generate vibrations when the calipers clamp onto it. We can clean or resurface the affected rotors to fix the problem.
If you’re experiencing any braking problems, call us immediately at Earnhardt Buick GMC.


