Does Your BMW Need a Brake Repair?

Brakes are components that many drivers don’t think about. They apply the brakes, the car slows down or stops as it always has. That’s great, until one day the brakes make strange sounds or are slow to respond. Your brakes keep you and your car safe, but they require regular maintenance to keep them in perfect working order. These are some of the signs that you need to visit your BMW dealer for a brake repair.

Does Your BMW Need a Brake Repair? Visit Your BMW Dealer Today

Screeching Sounds

Your car has brake pads which are housed in calipers above each wheel rotor. When you apply the brakes, brake fluid is pumped into the brake hoses, and this produces hydraulic pressure. The pressure pushes the calipers against the wheel rotors, and this reduces your car’s speed. The brake pads are covered with a friction material that provides extra friction against the rotors to stop them faster.

The material on the pads wears out over time, and each time you apply the brakes some of the material wears off. When your pads have worn to the level that they need to be replaced, a piece of metal in the pads becomes visible. This metal piece is responsible for the screeching sound as the metal strikes against the metal of the rotors. When you hear this aural warning, it’s time to see your dealer for replacement brake pads.

Leaking Fluid

Brake fluid creates the hydraulic pressure for the calipers to operate, and it’s stored in the brake fluid reservoir on top of the master cylinder. When you brake, the signal is sent to the master cylinder which releases the brake fluid. Any damage to the system can cause a leak, and unlike other car fluids, a brake fluid leak isn’t easy to spot. The fluid is colorless and looks similar to vegetable oil.

Leaking brake fluid is dangerous, as it will reduce the pressure that the calipers need to work. A leak in the brake hose on one side of your car can easily stop the brakes on that side from working. If that happens, your car will automatically veer towards the opposite side when you brake. Any fluid leak should always be checked immediately.

Burning Smell from the Brakes

Burning smells always herald a problem. If you’ve been constantly applying your brakes, especially driving in hot conditions, your brake fluids temperature can rise. A nasty chemical-like smell when you brake means that your brake fluid has reached boiling point. When brake fluid gets too hot, its hydraulic power is lost, and your brakes will stop working.

A brake problem can very quickly go from a minor annoyance to a serious disaster the issue isn’t fixed. If you experience any problem with your brakes or need advice call our service department immediately at Tom Bush BMW Orange Park. Our highly trained technicians will thoroughly examine your brakes and braking system. You’ll be back behind the wheel of your BMW in no time.

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