Your Mazda’s brakes will always be sharp and precise, no matter the speed and weather conditions. All that’s required to keep them responsive is routine inspections and timely replacements of worn-out pads and other parts. Here are the key signs you need brake service at your local Mazda dealership.
7 Signs It’s Time for a Mazda Brake Inspection
Noisy Brake Pads
Brake pads usually have a layer of organic or semi-metallic material bound with resin that generates friction. When this layer is almost worn away, a little tab begins to scrape against the rotor, creating a squealing noise to warn the driver. If the friction layer disappears altogether, you’ll hear a grinding sound instead.
Wobbling Rotor Discs
Bare brake pads can sometimes damage rotor discs, scoring them deeply. If this occurs, you’ll feel wobbling vibrations in the brake pedal, and the rotor might be ruined. Even undamaged rotors eventually wear too thin and start to warp out of shape, which also generates vibrations.
Blinking Brake Light
Your Mazda will typically alert you of a problem with the brake warning light on your dashboard. Your Mazda may also have a brake pad indicator light, a brake fluid level light, and a parking brake light to watch out for.
Brake Fluid Stains
Your car’s brake lines are filled with brake fluid, which carries the signal to each caliper whenever you use the pedal. When approaching your car, if you notice a spreading stain of fluid near a wheel, your brake fluid could be leaking, which makes your car unsafe to drive.
Softening Brake Pedal
If a brake fluid leak happened while you were behind the wheel, you would probably notice a soft, mushy feeling when you pressed the brake pedal. The sponginess means hydraulic pressure is reduced inside a brake line, which might also diminish the car’s stopping power.
Longer Stopping Distances
If you’re concerned that your car isn’t slowing down as promptly as it should, stop driving until the fault is repaired. Weakened brakes are either overheating or have a damaged pad, rotor, line, or caliper.
Burning Brake Smells
It’s possible for even first-rate brakes to overheat if they’re used too much without pause. If this occurs, you may smell something burning. Pull over at once to allow your brakes to cool down.
Visit Your Mazda Dealership for Routine Brake Service
The safest course of action is to schedule regular brake inspections with a trusted technician. Our factory-trained Mazda mechanics can examine your fluid, brake lines, pads, rotors, calipers, and master cylinder, finding and repairing any issues early on.
Drop by Alexandria Mazda in Alexandria, MN, to have your brakes professionally maintained.
