To enjoy a safe driving experience, you need to ensure that your brakes are in good working order. Whether you're driving one of Hyundai's family-friendly SUVs, a compact car, or something else, sticking to a regular brake maintenance schedule can help keep you, your passengers, and fellow motorists safe on the road. Here's a look at some of the most common questions our expert Hyundai mechanics get asked about car brakes.
How Long Do Brakes Last?
This is a tough question to answer because the life span of your brakes depends on several external variables. These factors include how you drive your vehicle, whether you regularly drive in heavy traffic, what you use your vehicle for, and several others.
In general, a car's brakes are designed to last between 40,000 and 60,000 miles of driving. This life span can be significantly shortened if you often brake sharply or drive in rush-hour traffic in the city. In situations like those, you might need to replace your brake systems after 25,000 miles of driving. When you stop and start more frequently on the road, you put your brake pads under additional strain. As a result, you will need to get your brakes checked out by a mechanic every year or two to ensure they're in good working order.
How Do You Bleed Brakes?
The idea behind bleeding your brakes is to get trapped air out of the braking system. Trapped air can be caused by a leak in the brake lines or contaminated brake fluid. Trapped air is a problem because it reduces the pressure the brake fluid can apply to your pads, resulting in poor braking performance.
Manufacturers install a bleeding valve at the bottom of your brake calipers. To bleed your brakes, all you need to do is open the valve with a screwdriver and drain your existing brake fluid into a pan. Then fill your brake fluid cylinder with a fluid recommended by your manufacturer. You should be able to find the best kinds of brake fluid for your vehicle in your owner's manual. As soon as you see fluid coming out of the valve in a steady stream, you can close the valve and you're done.
Why Do My Brakes Squeak?
If your brakes squeak, this may indicate that you require a brake inspection by one of our auto experts. Squeaking brakes may mean that your brake pads are activating their wear alert feature. This is a thin strip of metal typically fitted about 2 millimeters from the back of the pad to alert you when your pads are wearing thin. The metal strip rubs against your brake rotors when you apply your brakes, creating the squealing noise that tells you it's time to schedule an appointment at a reliable auto service center.
Brakes can squeak for other reasons too. For example, if you drive a sports car or other high-performance vehicle, your brakes may squeak due to the additional friction that comes with stopping a vehicle that was traveling at a high speed. In this case, squeaking brakes should not necessarily be a cause for concern, especially if your vehicle is very new.
How Much Do Brakes Cost?
The cost of brake repairs can vary considerably depending on your vehicle's braking system and the type of repairs you require. The best way to keep the cost of brake repairs low is to get regular inspections. That way, we can identify problems for you before they get serious so that you can take timely action.
For example, if we notice during an inspection that your brake pads are wearing thin, we can change them out relatively cheaply in a few minutes. However, if you burn through your pads and don't get them changed, your rotors can scrape directly against the brake calipers, causing extensive and costly damage that is much more difficult to repair.
What If I Feel Vibrations When I Brake?
This can indicate several potential problems. For one thing, your brake rotors may have been warped due to excessive heat caused by frequent braking. If this turns out to be the case, you'll likely have to get your rotors replaced.
Another possibility is that your brake pads are wearing unevenly, causing a vibration to occur when the thicker part rubs against the rotor. Uneven wear could indicate a related problem, such as poorly aligned wheels.
What Is Covered in a Brake Inspection?
Our auto technicians here at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai are familiar with performing thorough brake inspections. We'll examine the state of your brake pads and rotors to determine whether they're still in good condition or require replacement. You may need to replace your brake pads once they wear out, while you may need to change your rotors if they've become deformed or worn unevenly.
We'll also take a close look at your brake calipers. These are the parts that apply pressure to your pads, enabling them to create the friction needed to bring your car or SUV to a stop. The calipers are powered by brake fluid. You need to regularly flush and replace your brake fluid so that your brake system can working effectively. Brake fluid gets contaminated over time by particles from components as they wear out, and dust and dirt from external sources.
Finally, our technicians will check your brake lines for any signs of leaks or damage. Leaky brake hoses can cause reduced performance since air leaking into the system can hamper the flow of your brake fluid.
Once we've completed our brake inspection, we'll present you with a full report providing you with an overview of what we've found and any repairs that we recommend.
Have Your Brakes Maintained at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai
If you want to let the professionals take care of your braking needs, make a service appointment at our service center today. Here at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai, our technicians are expertly trained to handle all of your car's maintenance needs, including your brakes, tires, oil changes, and engine problems.
To learn more about our brake repair services, don't hesitate to contact us. Our helpful team can also assist you in ordering high-quality parts to fix your brakes and related components so you can enjoy a safe drive wherever you're headed.