Healthy brakes are your Kia’s most essential safety system, allowing you to control your speed. As your Kia dealership, we’d like you to know a few signs you may need to visit us for a brake repair.
3 Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your Kia Dealership
Hard Brake Pedal
When you push down on the brake pedal, you should feel resistance. The resistance is caused by pressurized brake fluid in the system that forces the brakes to engage. If the pedal barely moves when you press down on it, this is usually a sign that the brake pedal needs repair due to booster failure.
The brake pedal booster is positioned between the pedal and the braking system and magnifies the force exerted on the pedal by 10x. This boost in power allows you to brake easily without feeling like you’re doing leg presses to stop your car. The booster uses a vacuum system to generate its power, which can become damaged over time. We’ll examine the booster and repair or replace it to fix this problem.
Brake Fluid Leak
In time, leaks can develop due to rusted brake lines, worn brake hoses, or damaged seals. As the fluid leaks, pressure in the system will drop, and you’ll feel less resistance when you hit the brake pedal. This is dangerous, as the braking system must be fully pressurized to generate the force necessary to stop your wheels.
Brake fluid leaks are difficult to spot, as brake fluid is thin, yellowish, and looks similar to cooking oil. If the system leaks, sensors detect the pressure drop and warn your computer. The computer logs this problem and illuminates the brake warning light. If this illuminates at any time, visit us ASAP so we can identify the issue and repair it so you can continue to drive safely.
Vibrations Though the Pedal
If you feel strange vibrations when braking, one or more of your brake rotors are worn or damaged. The rotors are flat disks behind the wheels, and the calipers grab the rotors when you brake and produce friction that stops the wheels. Rotors can wear due to time and the heat and pressure they experience due to braking.
Rotors can also develop irregular surfaces due to the build-up of dried adhesive. The rough material covering a brake pad is attached to the pad with adhesive. The heat from braking can liquify the adhesive, which spreads across the rotor surface and dries in the heat. As time passes, layers of dried adhesive will develop, and the vibrations you feel are caused by a caliper grabbing part of this irregular surface. We’ll clean or replace the affected rotor to fix this problem.
If you have worn or damaged brakes, contact us ASAP at Auffeberg Kia in Shiloh, IL.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.