Three Ways to Tell When Your Kia Needs a Brake Repair

Good brakes are essential for your safety, as they are the only way that you can control your car’s speed and stop. All mechanical parts will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. As your Kia dealer, we want you to know the signs that you may need a brake repair.

Screeching Brakes

A high-pitched screeching from the front of your car is certainly unnerving. This awful sound is a first warning that you need to change your brake pads. When you apply the brakes, brake fluid is forced down the hoses. This exerts hydraulic pressure on the calipers, causing them to close. The calipers sit above each of your wheel rotors. When the calipers close on the rotors, the friction generated brings your car to a stop.

Your calipers have brake pads attached to them. The brake pads are covered in a friction material, which helps to slow down and stop the rotors faster. Each time the pads are used, a small amount of the pas wears off. When the pads have worn down to a level that they need to be replaced, a small metal piece in the pad becomes visible. The next time you use your brakes, the metal pad will contact the metal rotor and you’ll hear an awful screeching. It’s time to change your brake pads.

Boiling Brake Fluid

A chemical burning smell is a sign that your brakes need to be checked. As we’ve seen, brake fluid is used to exert hydraulic pressure on the calipers. If you have been using your brake to frequently stop and start, particularly on a hot day, you might get this chemical smell. Brake fluid is pumped into the hoses when you hit the brakes. Once you take your foot off the brakes, the fluid returns to its reservoir.

Brake fluid gets hot as it’s under pressure. If you’re frequently stepping on the brakes, the fluid doesn’t get a chance to cool down before it’s used again. The hotter your brake fluid gets, the greater chance it might boil. Boiling brake fluid is dangerous, as brake fluid loses its hydraulic ability when it gets too hot. If you smell a hot chemical smell, call us and our technicians will repair the problem.

Glazed Rotors

Another problem caused by frequent, sharp braking is damage to the rotors. The rotors are flat metal discs attached to each wheel. When you use the brakes, the caliper grab onto the rotors to stop them from moving. The caliper causes the rotor to stop due to friction, and friction produces heat. If your brake frequently, the increased heat from the friction can glaze your rotors.

A glazed rotor looks very smooth and shiny. This shiny surface can cause shrieking noise when you brake. We would be to replace the rotors to remove the noise.

Worn brakes are very dangerous. If you have this problem, call us ASAP at Crain Kia of Bentonville.

Image via Kia.

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