Brakes Overheating? Look for Quality Brake Repair!
If your brakes are overheating, head to a brake repair shop as soon as possible to pinpoint the source of the problem. Depending on how hard you step on the brake pedal, the pressure applied on the brake pads generates the friction needed to slow down or come to a complete stop. Whether you are stopping every few feet in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or you simply coast to a slow stop at a stop sign, your brakes are working to generate the friction needed to stop your vehicle. Where there’s friction, there’s heat!
How can you save your brakes so you aren’t worried about how often do you need brakes replaced? Smooth and steady driving should be your goal. This can be accomplished by leaving enough distance between your car and other vehicles or objects so you don’t have to come to a sudden hard stop. If you are driving downhill, try downshifting or letting up on the accelerator to slow down (called engine braking) rather than “riding” the brake pedal by keeping your foot lightly applied while driving.
In the case your brakes overheat, watch for these signs of problems:
- Soft or spongy feeling brakes. Condensation collecting in the brake fluid reservoir will boil and turn to steam when the brake fluid heats up, thereby reducing the stopping power of your brakes. The air in the brake lines, brake line damage, or low brake fluid can also cause your brakes to feel spongy.
- Smoking brakes. Brake pads burned by aggressive driving (consistently making sudden and hard stops) might actually begin to smoke and release a bad odor.
- Squealing brakes. Constant, excessive friction can generate so much heat that the brake pads become “glazed,” emitting a squealing sound when the brakes are applied.
As soon as you suspect your brakes are overheating or that you have any other kind of brake problems, slow down and find a safe place to pull over to call a brake repair shop. If you don’t have very far to go, you may be able to drive to the shop once your brakes have cooled down. But to be on the safe side, call roadside assistance for towing.
Remember: Prevent overheating brakes by giving yourself plenty of room to slow down so you don’t have to slam on the brakes.
Need to know more about how often do you need brakes replaced? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about brake repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
If your brakes are overheating, head to a brake repair shop as soon as possible to pinpoint the source of the problem. Depending on how hard you step on the brake pedal, the pressure applied on the brake pads generates the friction needed to slow down or come to a complete stop. Whether you are stopping every few feet in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or you simply coast to a slow stop at a stop sign, your brakes are working to generate the friction needed to stop your vehicle. Where there’s friction, there’s heat!
How can you save your brakes so you aren’t worried about how often do you need brakes replaced? Smooth and steady driving should be your goal. This can be accomplished by leaving enough distance between your car and other vehicles or objects so you don’t have to come to a sudden hard stop. If you are driving downhill, try downshifting or letting up on the accelerator to slow down (called engine braking) rather than “riding” the brake pedal by keeping your foot lightly applied while driving.
In the case your brakes overheat, watch for these signs of problems:
- Soft or spongy feeling brakes. Condensation collecting in the brake fluid reservoir will boil and turn to steam when the brake fluid heats up, thereby reducing the stopping power of your brakes. The air in the brake lines, brake line damage, or low brake fluid can also cause your brakes to feel spongy.
- Smoking brakes. Brake pads burned by aggressive driving (consistently making sudden and hard stops) might actually begin to smoke and release a bad odor.
- Squealing brakes. Constant, excessive friction can generate so much heat that the brake pads become “glazed,” emitting a squealing sound when the brakes are applied.
As soon as you suspect your brakes are overheating or that you have any other kind of brake problems, slow down and find a safe place to pull over to call a brake repair shop. If you don’t have very far to go, you may be able to drive to the shop once your brakes have cooled down. But to be on the safe side, call roadside assistance for towing.
Remember: Prevent overheating brakes by giving yourself plenty of room to slow down so you don’t have to slam on the brakes.
Need to know more about how often do you need brakes replaced? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about brake repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
