Honda Brake Service in West Warwick

A well-maintained braking system is obviously essential to safe driving, so therefore it’s one of the main items on your vehicle to keep an eye on. Since the wearing down of your braking system’s components is based on use and driving style more so than a simple schedule of time or miles, you should stay alert between service visits for signs that this crucial part of your vehicle might need attention.

What Makes Up a Braking System?

The braking system on a modern vehicle consists of numerous parts that are subject to wear over time, mainly rotors (also known as discs), pads, and calipers. (Some cars may have drum brakes instead, with a drum in place of the rotor.) Since the aforementioned parts all wear down with use, we expect to replace them sooner or later, just like we expect to replace tires ever few years. Often, a driver will get either an obvious sensation (shuddering, for example) or an audible clue (squealing or chirping) when any part in this list has worn down to the point where it must be replaced.

There’s also a hydraulic fluid system consisting of cylinders, brake lines (steel tubes), and fluid hoses (rubber) that must be maintained – for instance, if air gets into the hydraulic fluid, the brakes will not work as well, and the brake lines will have to be bled to remove any bubbles. Problems with this part of the braking system are rare, but you should learn to recognize the signs that something in there needs attention. If you experience a loss of braking effectiveness, or if the brake pedal feels spongy or goes all the way to the floor, chances are you have a problem with your brakes’ hydraulic system.

Getting Your Braking System Checked

When you take your vehicle in to the service department at Balise Honda of West Warwick, the experienced, factory-trained technicians will check its braking system. They’ll take a look even if you haven’t explicitly brought it in for that reason: if it’s there for a tire rotation, for example, they’ll look at the braking components while they have the wheels off. There are also certain service intervals where the brakes will be inspected in more depth (see your owner’s manual for the specific recommendations for your Honda model, or ask your service advisor). Any time you notice any of the symptoms mentioned in the previous section – sponginess in the brake pedal, increased time to come to a stop, unusual noises or sensations during braking – you should plan to get the vehicle in to the service department as soon as possible. There could be a serious problem in the braking system that could potentially lead to brake failure.

And while braking components expectedly wear down with a lot of use, especially stop-and-go or around-town driving, a car that sits too long without being driven can also end up with braking issues. This is especially true where a vehicle might be exposed to salt, either from wintertime road treatment or from coastal air. Salt can settle on the rotors, causing the metal to develop rust, which leaves pits on the rotor surface. When the brake pads grip the rotor and meet these imperfections, the result will be shuddering. Sometimes, if the corrosion on the rotors is mild, a bit of regular braking activity will wear it away with natural friction. But if you find that the shuddering continues, it’s time to replace those rotors. Sometimes a newer rotor can be “turned” to remove surface pitting, but it’s usually best to simply put on new rotors – especially since they’re not that expensive. Your authorized Honda service technician will give you professional guidance on what’s best for your vehicle and, most importantly, your safety.