3 Signs Your Chrysler Needs a Brake Repair

Worn or damaged brakes make driving dangerous as they prevent the brakes from working effectively. Braking responsiveness decreases and braking distance increases and this can cause an accident. As your Chrysler dealership, we want you to know some signs you need to visit us for a brake repair.

Illuminated Brake Light

The brake warning light on your dash illuminates if there’s a problem with your brakes or if your handbrake is still engaged. Sensors are connected to the brake components and monitor them for signs of trouble. If something goes wrong, the relevant sensor informs your computer. The computer logs the issue with an error code and illuminates the warning light.

If the brake is released and the light remains on, something is wrong with your braking system. You might have low brake fluid due to a leak, or the brake pads could be worn and need replacement. The light could also signal a more serious issue like the failure of the brake master cylinder, the component that controls your brakes. Once we find and fix the problem, the light will go out.

Vibrations When Braking

A healthy braking system will quickly and smoothly bring your vehicle to a halt. If you feel strange vibrations through the pedal when you hit the brakes, something is wrong. A major cause of this problem is an irregular rotor surface. The rotors are the smooth, flat disks positioned behind the wheels, and the calipers grip the rotors when you apply the brakes to force them to stop moving.

Braking generates heat, and this can cause brake pad adhesive to liquefy. The adhesive will spread across the rotor and dry on its hot surface. As time passes and more adhesive dries on the rotor, it creates an irregular surface. When a caliper grabs the irregular surface, you’ll feel the vibrations it causes. We fix this issue by cleaning or resurfacing the affected rotor to turn its surface smooth again.

Burning Chemical Smell

Brake fluid becomes less effective as it ages, and it needs regular replacement. Older fluid will also absorb water, and this can cause braking problems. As we saw above, braking generates heat. If you have to brake frequently over a short distance, for example, driving downhill, high temperatures can cause the water in the fluid to overheat.

The brake fluid won’t burn, but the boiling water inside overheats the fluid. Hot brake fluid can’t generate the hydraulic power necessary to force the brakes to engage, and your brakes could fail. We’ll drain and replace the old fluid to fix this problem.

If you have a brake problem, visit our expert technicians today at Bruner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Stephenville, TX.

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