Brakes & Brake Pads
The last thing you need is to doubt your brakes when you have to make a sudden stop. Remember these tips when it comes to spotting trouble before there’s a real problem.
Your Brakes Can’t Wait
You need to find the problems and fix them before your brakes really fail you. Noise, excessive pumping, or difficulty stopping are all clear signs you need to take your car to our repair service.
Ted Russell Nissan is available to help you restore your brakes so you can get back on the road in total confidence.
Routine brake inspections determine what you need if your brakes are causing vibrations, feel spongy under your feet or are causing the car to pull to one side. Our trained technicians look at the pads, fluid, and discs to see what needs attention. Even if you haven’t noticed these problems, an inspection can take care of any minor defects before they turn into major ones. Schedule a routine check with us today.
What signs should I look for?
- Red warning lights on the dashboard can indicate a braking imbalance.
- Yellow warning lights on the dashboard can signal there’s a trouble with the ABS.
- Squealing and grinding may mean that your pads or rotors are bad.
- Vibrations in the car when braking could mean rotor damage.
- Difficulty with using the pedals could mean your pads or fluid are the trouble.
- If your car pulls to either direction, it could mean you need new pads, the fluid needs checking or you just need an adjustment.
- Spongy or airy pedals could be either rotor damage or air bubbles in the brake fluid.
The Components of Your Braking System
- Brake Fluid
- The fluid is what keeps everything moving in the braking system. It ensures your pistons and seals can actually stop the car quickly should you need it. Over time, particles can contaminate the fluid and cause it to go bad. Change it according the manufacturer’s recommendations, or talk to a mechanic if it’s not listed in your manual.
- Brake Pads
- Brake pads are what create the friction your car needs to stop. The friction material presses against the rotors (also known as discs) which forces the car to come to a halt. When the friction component is worn down, the rotors will start to grind against the pad’s steel backing. The results are very costly, so you need to routinely replace the brake pads before the steel reaches the rotors.
- Brake Rotors
- The rotors are connected to your wheels and are usually made of cast iron. They wear down just like the pads, but they’ll normally last longer than the pads will. An inspection will determine how thick the rotors are, so you know whether or not they need to be replaced.
Service Hours
- Monday – Friday: 7:00am to 6:00pm
- Saturday: 7:00am to 4:00pm
- Sunday: 1:00pm to 6:00pm
Parts Hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:00am to 6:00pm
- Saturday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
- Sunday: 1:00pm to 6:00pm