3 Signs It’s Time for a Chevy Brake Inspection

Damaged Brake Vacuum Booster

Before the mid-1970s, applying the brakes meant using a significant amount of effort. Since then, brake vacuum boosters have been installed in every vehicle to make braking easier. The booster is connected to your brake pedal, and it uses a vacuum system to magnify the force you use on the pedal by 10x. The braking system responds faster, and you won’t get leg strain.

If you press down on the pedal and it barely moves, there’s a problem with the booster. Inside the booster is a rubber bladder that helps produce the vacuum. Over time, the bladder can leak, and without the vacuum, this system won’t work. The vacuum can also be lost due to worn seals or gaskets that allow air to enter. We’ll examine the booster and repair or replace it to fix this problem.

Screeching Noises

High-pitched screeching when you brake is never a good sign. This annoying and stressful noise is actually a warning that you need new brake pads. Brake pads have a rough material covering, and they fit into the calipers, which are positioned above your wheels. When you hit the brakes, the calipers are forced against the rotors, and the material on the pads generates friction against the rotors, which stops the wheels.

The material on a new pad is 1/2″ thick, but it slowly wears down each time you brake. When the material thickness reaches 1/4″, a metal spike built into the pad becomes visible. The spike will scratch against the rotor each time you brake, alerting you that it’s time to change the pads. We can replace worn pads in minutes, and your brakes will work smoothly and quietly again.

Pedal Vibrations

If you hit the brakes and you feel vibrations through the pedal, the most common cause is a damaged rotor. The rotors, which are positioned behind the wheel hubs, are smooth, flat disks. As we’ve seen, the calipers clamp against the rotors to stop your vehicle. Over time, their flat surfaces can become more irregular due to rust, the buildup of dried adhesive from the brake pads that liquified and then hardened in the heat, and other causes.

We fix this problem by removing the affected rotor and using a machine to resurface it. This involves carefully removing the upper layers of the metal to make the rotor surface flat and smooth again.

If you have a brake problem, visit our Service Center and Schedule Service ASAP at Criswell Chevrolet of Thurmont in Thurmont, MD.

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