Brakes Service
Safety is important whenever you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. Luckily, Hyundai is known for having some of the best driver-assistance technology available on the market. If you’re driving a Hyundai, your car has an abundance of features to keep you safe no matter where you’re headed. While high-tech features are important, there’s another vehicle component that’s equally vital when it comes to safety: your brakes. When it’s time to have your brakes serviced, there’s no better option than Allen Turner Hyundai.
At Allen Turner Hyundai, we’re dedicated to maintaining high standards in our service department and performing quality repairs. We understand how critical it is to have your brakes in proper working order, and our highly qualified service technicians will treat your car like their own.
What Are Brake Pads?
To slow your vehicle, you step on the brake pedal and feel immediate deceleration as your car’s braking system kicks into gear, initiating a complex series of movements that instantly slow or stop your car. Most of today’s cars come with disc brakes, where hydraulic fluid squeezes the brake pad against a rotating brake disc. The resulting friction between the brake pad and the disc is what slows or stops your vehicle.
Some cars may still have drum brakes. Drum brakes also rely on friction to slow your car, but instead of using a brake pad, they use a brake shoe. These semi-circular brake shoes press against the inside of a drum when you step on the brake pedal, creating friction that slows your vehicle.
Whether your car has disc or drum brakes, the friction that slows your car causes gradual wear over time. It’s critical to get regular brake inspections so you’ll know when to replace your brake pads or brake shoes.
What Services Should Be Performed on My Brakes?
The rate at which your brake pads deteriorate largely depends on driving conditions. If you spend most of your time cruising on the back roads of Pensacola, you’ll see less wear than drivers who spend their time in stop-and-go traffic along I-10. Additionally, your driving style matters; if you’re an aggressive driver who tends to do a lot of hard braking, you’ll see a more rapid deterioration of your brake pads.
Brake Inspection
A brake inspection is the most important service we regularly perform at Allen Turner Hyundai. Having your brakes inspected often will give you peace of mind, as you’ll know whether your brake pads are road ready or need replacing. At a minimum, you should get a brake inspection with every tire rotation or every six months. If you’re a driver who experiences increased brake wear, you should get brake inspections even more frequently. A service technician can let you know if it’s time to consider replacing your brake pads.
Brake Pad Replacement
When you get your brakes inspected, the service technician will measure the depth of the friction material on your brake pad. If the depth has decreased to 2 millimeters or less, it’s time to get your brake pads replaced. Brake pad replacement is a routine maintenance task that our technicians can perform quickly and efficiently, getting you back on the road in no time. Ensuring sufficient depth of your brake pads’ friction components is critical to the performance of your brake system.
Brake Fluid Replacement
Brake fluid is the hydraulic fluid pumped through your brake lines to all four wheels of your vehicle. When you press the brake pedal, this pressurized fluid causes the brake pad to apply the required pressure to slow or stop your car. Over time, the brake fluid will deteriorate, possibly affecting your car’s braking performance. When you get your brakes inspected, our service technicians will examine the color and level of your brake fluid to determine if it’s time to have it replaced. Generally, your brake fluid will last approximately two to five years, depending on your vehicle and driving style.
How Will I Know if It’s Time To Have My Brakes Serviced?
If you struggle to remember your vehicle’s maintenance schedule, there are some signs and warnings you may experience while driving that will let you know that it’s time to bring your car in for a brake inspection.
Sounds or Vibrations
As your car’s brake pads wear down, you may notice a squealing sound when you push the brake pedal. That squealing sound can indicate that your brake pads have worn down to a less-than-ideal depth. If you ignore this sound for too long, you may start to hear metal-on-metal grinding, which is a clear indicator that your brake pads have worn out and you need to have your brakes serviced immediately. Vibrations when braking also likely indicate worn brake pads and should not be ignored.
Longer Braking Times
You know your car better than anyone, and you probably have a good idea of how much pressure you need to apply to the brake to slow or stop your vehicle. If you notice that you have to apply more pressure than usual to slow your car, it may indicate that your brakes need to be serviced.
Brake Indicator Light
Most cars have a brake indicator light that comes on when you set your emergency brake. However, this light also has a second function that alerts you to possible trouble with your brake pads. If this light is on when your parking brake isn’t engaged, bring your car in for a brake inspection immediately.
Let Allen Turner Hyundai Help Today
If you have any questions about your car’s brakes or their service schedule, don’t hesitate to contact our team today. We’ll answer all your questions and guide you through the service process to make sure your car is safe and ready to hit the road. Our exceptional customer service team and highly skilled service technicians are here to take care of all your brake service needs, so schedule your service today.