Why It’s Crucial to Have Your Ford’s Brakes Checked Regularly

Good brakes can mean the difference between stopping in time or being part of an accident. Your brakes are a mechanical system, and like all mechanical systems, it requires regular maintenance to work effectively. As your Ford dealer, we want to tell you a few signs you need to visit us for a brake service.

Pulsing Brake Pedal

This issue feels weird. When you push down on the brake pedal, you feel resistance from the pressurized fluid. This fluid forces the calipers to close and clamp against both sides of each rotor. The brake pads inside generate friction against the smooth rotor surfaces, stopping your Ford smoothly and easily.

A pulsing feeling through the pedal is caused by one or more calipers grabbing uneven rotor surfaces. Rotor surfaces can wear down over time due to the heat and friction produced by braking. Pad material can also adhere to the hot rotors, building up over time and creating an uneven surface. We’ll examine them and clean or resurface the rotors to fix this problem.

Soft Brake Pedal

A soft brake pedal produces little resistance when you step on it, which is a major problem. The lack of resistance means something could be blocking the brake fluid, preventing it from generating the hydraulic power to force your brakes to work. You could also have a brake fluid leak. Brake responsiveness will usually be sluggish, requiring you to push your foot almost to the floor to get your brakes to work.

A blockage can form if air enters the braking system. The hoses are filled with brake fluid, and air will form a bubble blocking their path. A fluid leak can happen due to worn seals, a leaky brake hose, or other forms of damage. As fluid is lost, the remaining fluid loses pressure, and braking becomes more difficult. We’ll bleed your brakes to remove any air or find and seal the hole depending on the situation.

Burning Chemical Smell

If you smell a foul chemical stench from your brakes, your brake fluid is overheating. Older brake fluid can absorb water, which heats up due to the pressure caused by braking. If the water gets hot enough, it will boil.

The brake fluid can’t burn, but if it overheats, it temporarily loses its ability to generate hydraulic power and your brakes won’t work. We advise pulling over and allowing your brakes to cool. Contact us ASAP, and we’ll drain and replace the old fluid, as newer fluid is less likely to absorb water or overheat.

Driving with bad brakes is dangerous. Contact us right away at Zeigler Ford Plainwell in Plainwell, MI.

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