You're driving down the road—maybe running errands that send you all over the city, or taking a trip up to Dayton for the weekend—and all is going well until you press the brake pedal and nothing happens. It is a nightmare scenario that you might see in a horror movie or psychological thriller, but it can happen.
Fortunately, most of us will never experience a complete brake failure, but we can still experience brakes that do not work as well as they should. Even discovering suddenly that your brakes take a longer distance to stop you than they should can be terrifying or cause a dangerous collision. How do you avoid such a traumatic experience?
Simply getting proper and timely brake service in Cincinnati is typically enough to ensure your brakes respond appropriately whenever you need them. The brakes on your vehicle are simple in some ways, but there are a fair number of moving parts, and if something goes wrong with them, you can be left in a dangerous situation.
Your vehicle will typically warn you that your brakes are getting worn down and need service in a variety of ways, but it is essential that you listen to these warnings and have your vehicle serviced right away. Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, we are always happy to help you keep your ride in the best condition possible, so let's answer some of the most common questions about your brakes...
It would be great if we could give you a simple rule on how often you should replace your brakes, such as "replace your brakes every X miles or after Y months." Sadly, that is not possible because it depends on many different factors, including how often you use your vehicle, the kinds of conditions you drive in, and your own driving habits.
With these in mind, however, we can give you some information and good tips to remember that will make it easier to know when to consider replacing them to ensure your brakes are in great shape.
If you are looking for a general rule of thumb, you can expect your brake pads to last about 30,000 miles on average with typical driving. This is a very loose guideline, however, and not something you should consider solid; think of it as written in pencil rather than pen, so to speak. What is more important than this, though, is that you have your brakes inspected on a regular basis to ensure they are still in good shape.
How often you have your brakes checked depends on other factors, but we think it is a good idea to have them checked out about once or twice a year. If you swap between winter and all-season tires in November and April—as a lot of people do—then these change-overs would be the perfect time to also have your brakes checked out.
Chevy does not give exact timing on when brakes should be replaced for the reasons we stated above, but they do have brake inspections on their service schedules. Looking at the 2020 Silverado 1500, for example, Chevy recommends that the brakes should be checked every 7,500 miles along with other things like tire rotations, checking engine coolant levels, inspecting for fluid leaks, and more.
This is a great way to ensure that your brakes are in good shape, and this sort of inspection can detect early warning signs, letting you know that you will need to replace your brake pads before it becomes a bigger issue.
There are two different types of brakes in use on vehicles today, and while some aspects of how they function are similar, there are some key differences between them, too. In general, all brakes utilize hydraulic pressure, which means there is pressurized fluid in thin tubes that run throughout the brake system.
Consider this: If you are driving 60 mph and press the pedal to stop your vehicle, you would need to apply a tremendous amount of force directly with your foot to get your car to slow and come to a stop. The hydraulic system amplifies the force of your pressing the brake pedal, so you do not have to work nearly so hard to safely stop your SUV.
Connected to your brake pedal is a master cylinder; this is the start of the hydraulic pressure system. When you press the brake pedal, you activate the master cylinder, which converts your effort into hydraulic pressure via the fluid in the brake lines, which presses other cylinders at your wheels, activating the physical brakes on your vehicle. You have brakes on each of your four wheels connected to the master cylinder; all four might be the same, or they might be different.
Most vehicles from GM these days have disc brakes on all four wheels, though some have disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on the rear wheels instead. With both types, the force of braking is not applied directly to the wheels; instead, it is applied to either a rotor or a drum.
It is important to understand this difference because it affects the parts of your brakes that might need to be replaced most often. For disc brakes, the brake pads will wear out before the rotor, though both will have to be replaced on occasion—the pads more frequently. With drum brakes, the brake shoes will wear out first and need to be replaced more often, with drum replacements needed eventually but not as frequently.
Disc brakes tend to be more effective at slowing and stopping your vehicle but also more expensive to produce; your front brakes take more abuse, so they are always disc brakes on Chevy vehicles, but some models can have drum brakes on the rear to keep costs down; this is particularly true with starting models and low-end trims.
It goes without saying that your brakes are absolutely vital, and keeping them in good working order is essential when you are on the road. Worn brakes or a leak in your brake lines can cause you to stop much more slowly, covering more distance between when you hit your brakes and when you actually come to a stop.
The last thing you want when you need to stop is for it to take longer than you expect. Fortunately, your brakes will likely give you a fair number of signs when you need to replace them, such as:
We often stress the importance of driving your vehicle—without music or other audio—shortly after your purchase to get a feel for it, much like you would a new pair of sneakers. This is because you want to know what your car normally sounds like while you accelerate, drive, and hit the brakes.
Strange sounds usually mean something is wrong; while it is not unusual for brakes to squeal a bit when they are wet, if they squeal during dry conditions, then they are trying to get your attention. It usually means your brake pads have worn down to a built-in indicator, and they are telling you it's time to replace them.
Squealing sounds usually come from your brake pads doing what they are supposed to do; metallic grinding sounds, on the other hand, mean something is very wrong. You will usually hear this when your brake rotor or drum needs to be replaced or if you have ignored worn pads or shoes for too long and now they are doing some damage to the other parts of your brakes.
Whatever the reason, it is time to have your brakes inspected and repaired right away.
When you are first getting comfortable with a new vehicle, it is a good idea to get a feel for the brakes and how long they take to stop you under different conditions. We suggest finding an empty parking lot or stretch of road around Cincinnati with no one around and doing some hard braking to feel how responsive your brakes usually are.
This way, you can more easily notice if they start taking longer to bring you to a stop, which usually means you have lost some hydraulic pressure or the pads or shoes are worn down.
When your brakes are in good shape, they will work together to stop your vehicle in an even way. If you notice that your car is veering in one direction to the side when you hit the brakes, then you have some uneven wear on the brakes on one side.
In general, the extra wear is on the side opposite the direction your vehicle wants to veer in since you are getting good braking power on that side, and it is the other side of your vehicle swinging outward as it continues to move forward.
Your brake pedal should feel responsive when you press it down and provide you with good tactile feedback as you engage it. If you notice your brakes start to feel soft or squishy, this frequently means there is a problem with the hydraulic pressure in your brake system.
You could have an issue with the master cylinder or a leak somewhere in your brake line where you are losing fluid and pressure. Whatever the cause, you should have it checked out and fixed right away before it becomes a bigger issue.
Any kind of new vibration or unusual feel to your vehicle while driving is typically a sign that something is wrong, assuming you are not on a rough stretch of road in Millvale. If you notice intense vibrations in your steering wheel or the brake pedal—specifically when you apply the brakes—then this usually means you have an issue with them.
These kinds of vibrations tend to indicate your brake rotors or drums need to be replaced, but we can take a look to let you know for sure and get things fixed up right away.
One of the simplest warning signs relies on proper service for your vehicle and routine inspections, as we suggested earlier. If one of our expert technicians sees that your brake pads or rotors are getting worn down or have any damage, then we can let you know so you can get ahead of a problem before it develops.
You can also inspect your brakes yourself, though they can be hard to reach without lifting your vehicle up, which is why it's easier to have us handle it while we change your oil or provide other services.
Few things are as reliable as the warning lights that can illuminate on your dashboard—they all have meanings and should never be ignored. If you see a warning light come on, then it could mean you have an issue with your brakes or that the pads are getting worn down; some cars have sensors designed to detect this.
Whatever the issue, bring your vehicle in so we can run a diagnostic and make sure your car is in the best shape possible.
In general, you typically do not need to replace all of your brakes at the same time, though if they are all getting worn out, then it is possible you will need to. Usually, only one set of brakes needs to be changed: either both of your front brakes or both of your rear brakes.
As we said earlier, your front brakes tend to take more abuse since the weight and momentum of your vehicle shift forward as you slow and come to a stop, so don't be surprised if you need to replace your front brakes more often than your rear ones.
You might have noticed we said you should replace both your front or rear brakes together, as this is always the case. Even if only one wheel has brakes that are especially worn out or damaged, you should still replace both the front and rear brakes together. If one is worn out, then the other one is going to be soon, too, and you want your brakes to be at the same level of wear to ensure you get even braking.
Your brake fluid should last a long time, assuming no issues like a leak in your brake line, and needs to be replaced infrequently—for example, on the 2020 Silverado 1500, Chevy suggests replacing the brake fluid every five years.
As we said before, a number of things can impact how quickly your brake pads and shoes wear out, causing you to need to replace them at different points in time. The biggest factor to remember is that your driving habits and the type of driving you do have the most impact here.
Every time you press the pedal and use your brakes, the pads rub against the rotor, or the shoes press against the drum, wearing them down through friction. In other words, the more you use your brakes, the faster they wear out.
If you are the sort of driver who tends to ride your brakes a lot, then you will probably need to replace them sooner than someone who uses their brakes sparingly. Similarly, a driver who makes a lot of long trips on highways with light traffic will get more life out of their brakes than someone who deals with a lot of stop-and-go traffic that requires heavy use of brakes.
Being mindful of traffic so you can brake lightly early on and safely come to a stop, rather than frequently needing to hard brake to stop quickly, can help extend the lifespan of your brake shoes, so keep that in mind while driving around Cincinnati.
Keeping your brakes working right and in good condition is vital for any driver. Damaged, poorly responsive, or otherwise defective brakes put you, your vehicle, and others at risk and may make your vehicle unsafe or even illegal to drive.
For Cincinnati drivers, routine brake maintenance is even more important. With cold weather and city driving all putting wear and tear on your brakes, proper and timely maintenance is vital if you want to keep your vehicle in perfect driving condition. To handle situations like these, your vehicle needs reliable brakes that can handle quick stops, difficult terrain, and especially slick or wet roads.
That's why we're so dedicated to providing excellent service and performance for every customer. We know that Cincinnati drivers value performance and reliability in their cars, and we understand the importance of a well-maintained vehicle for handling the demands of driving through snow or crowded city streets.
We take our commitment to you and your vehicle seriously, which is why we provide you with a wide array of services for keeping your brakes working and in good condition. We believe in providing the best service we can to our customers and our community, and that means helping ensure that you and your vehicle receive the care you need to stay safe on the road.
When you're bringing your vehicle in to be serviced, it's important to do so with a team that's transparent about its process. After all, your vehicle is an important part of your life, and you want to make sure it's worked on by a team of experts who will give it the attentive and dedicated care that it deserves.
Whether you're bringing your vehicle in for inspection, repair, or maintenance, the process starts the same way for every person. Our expert team of highly skilled mechanics will thoroughly examine your vehicle to determine its current condition and the nature of any work that needs to be done.
Our diagnostic process uses state-of-the-art tools and advanced equipment, allowing our mechanics to easily identify any issues that may be present in your vehicle. And once they have, our expert staff will work hard to get your vehicle back to its best possible shape.
And if you're just bringing your vehicle in for routine maintenance or inspection, you're covered there, too. Our team brings the same dedication to every service appointment, no matter the reason you've brought your vehicle in. Whether you're getting your vehicle back on the road or just trying to keep it in top shape, our service staff are experts who can help you get there.
Keeping your brakes functional and in great condition is one of the most important maintenance tasks you can perform on your vehicle. After all, good brakes are vital to the safety and performance of any vehicle, and without proper maintenance and care, they will inevitably wear down, fail, or break outright.
Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, our service department can provide you with a variety of services and components to keep your brakes in excellent shape, so your vehicle can continue to safely get you where you need to go. Whatever the issue may be, we have the equipment and know-how to get your brakes feeling like new again.
Our extensive selection of services and components covers everything you might need to maintain your vehicle's brakes. With brake pads, rotors, calipers, fluid flushes, and more all covered under our extensive services, we're able to check every part of your brake system to make sure that everything is in working order and functioning properly.
And for those drivers looking to work on their vehicle by themselves, we have the same great selection of components available for you to bring home. Brake pads, calipers, rotors, and more are available in our wide inventory of components, making us the perfect stop for any maintenance needs you'd like to address on your own.
Our service department is dedicated to keeping you and your vehicle safe on the road, and we deliver on that promise for every customer who brings their vehicle in. And it's our wide array of services and components, delivered with expert know-how, that allows us to do exactly that.
When you're bringing your vehicle in for any kind of work, you want to make sure you're bringing it to the right team. You want a team that will treat your car with the respect it deserves and leave it in great condition. This is especially true for Cincinnati drivers who contend with dense urban driving, as well as seasons of cold weather and slick roads.
That's why our team is the best choice for your maintenance needs. Our staff of talented experts will have your vehicle in great shape in no time. Whatever kind of work your vehicle needs, we can get it done on time and with excellent service, every time.
Our service team consists of expert, certified technicians with one goal: making sure you get the best service for your vehicle every time you bring it in. Our certified technicians are trained and knowledgeable in every aspect of auto maintenance and repair, and they're dedicated to bringing that skill to your vehicle.
Our genuine OEM parts ensure that whenever you bring your vehicle in for service, it's performed with high-quality parts that are a perfect fit for your vehicle. With their guarantee of quality straight from the manufacturer, these parts let us ensure our mechanics are doing their work with the equipment and parts best suited to your vehicle, so you receive the best service we can provide.
As important as regular upkeep on your vehicle and its brakes is, it can be hard to find the time to schedule an appointment, let alone take time out of your day to bring your vehicle in. Life is fast, demanding, and never stops moving. We understand how much of a challenge scheduling auto servicing can be, which is why we work to make sure the process is as easy and convenient as possible.
Scheduling a maintenance appointment with us is simple and can be done in person, over the phone, or right from the comfort of your home via our website. We make it quick and easy to get your appointment on the books so that you can easily schedule your maintenance at a time that's convenient for you.
We also work with you to ensure that the process of getting your car looked at is quick and easy. Taking time out of your day can be difficult, so we make sure to provide your vehicle with prompt and efficient servicing, matching your busy schedule so you and your vehicle can get back on the road as soon as possible.
To that end, we're glad to bundle multiple services together into one appointment, allowing you to knock out all of your vehicle's maintenance needs in one quick and easy trip. Bring your car in for an inspection, an oil change, a fluid flush, or any other service you may need, all in the same visit.
You can see that your brakes are ultimately pretty simple things, though there are plenty of different parts and components involved in bringing your vehicle to a stop. The most important thing to remember is that the best way to ensure you maintain control of your vehicle is to have your brakes serviced per Chevy’s recommended schedule so your model functions properly, which includes routine brake inspections.
This is the best way to know when it is time for new brake pads or new rotors on your vehicle, ensuring your car responds to you the moment you press the pedal. Call or visit us at McCluskey Chevrolet today for all your brake service needs; our certified service center and expert technicians are here to keep you safe and your vehicle in great shape.
