Expert Brake Repair Services at Your Mazda Dealer

Your Mazda’s brakes are arguably its most critical safety feature, and they operate using a system of simple but essential pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid. Like any mechanical system, they’re subject to wear and tear, and any of the aforementioned components could need replacement or repair. Regular maintenance, along with addressing any issues promptly, will usually stop any crucial breakdowns before they can happen and is part of ensuring you always have braking performance and safety. Brake repair at your Mazda dealer is part of responsible car ownership.

Expert Brake Repair Services at Your Mazda Dealer

A variety of issues can plague your braking system, and some offer clues in the form of signs you can feel, hear, or sometimes see.

Hearing Things

One of the most common warnings is a high-pitched squealing or grinding sound when you apply the brakes. Worn-out brake pads usually cause this ear-piercing noise. These pads are designed to create friction against the brake rotors to slow the car down, and their friction material gradually wears away over time. When the pads get thin enough, a metal tab is revealed, and that’s what’s designed to create the squeal and let you know it’s time for new pads.

Grinding noises, on the other hand, can indicate that the pads are completely worn and metal is now grinding against metal. This does serious damage to your rotors, and you need to get things fixed pronto before you lose braking power entirely.

What You Feel

Another symptom of the need for brake repair is a soft or spongy brake pedal. This could indicate a leak in your brake line or a problem within the master cylinder, which is kind of like the control center for your brake system. Leaks in the brake system allow air to enter the lines instead of brake fluid, and this eats away at the system’s ability to transmit the force from your foot to the wheels. Since this is a critical safety issue, you shouldn’t drive your Mazda until the leak is fixed by the technicians at your Mazda dealer.

Vibrations through the brake pedal or steering wheel during braking can indicate you’ve got warped brake rotors. Rotors are the large metal discs that the brake pads squeeze against, and extreme heat buildup, often from aggressive braking, can cause the rotor surfaces to become uneven. You can also get warping if your brake pads are too thin and you’ve driven around on them like that for too long. This warping compromises the pad’s contact point, reducing braking efficiency and causing vibrations you can feel.

What You Smell

Sometimes a burning smell accompanying braking can also be a red flag. This acrid odor could signal you have overheated brake pads or an issue with a sticking brake caliper. In your brakes, there’s a caliper, which is the hydraulic clamp that squeezes the pads against the rotor. If it malfunctions and stays partially engaged, it creates constant friction, and that can do damage to both pads and rotors. Your dealership professionals will pinpoint the origin of the burning smell and rectify the issue promptly.

What Your Mazda Dealer Checks

The best way to monitor your Mazda’s brake health is with routine service appointments at your dealership. During these scheduled maintenance visits, one of our factory-trained technicians will visually inspect your brake components for wear and perform brake repair if needed. They’ll measure the thickness of the brake pads and the condition of the rotors to determine if there’s enough friction material remaining or if signs of rotor wear become too severe.

If necessary, they will replace the brake pads and may also recommend resurfacing your rotors. Resurfacing involves machining an extremely thin layer from the rotor surface. This restores its smooth, flat finish, and this, in turn, improves the new pad’s contact and enhances braking performance. In cases where there’s extreme warping or wear, they may recommend the complete replacement of the rotors.

Deeper Looks

Beyond looking at and possibly replacing pads and rotors, your Mazda dealer techs will also pay close attention to other components of your brake system, especially when you visit for those bigger checkups. They will inspect the calipers for any signs of sticking, ensuring that they clamp and release smoothly. They’ll also look for leaks in brake lines and hoses, checking for signs of cracked or weakened rubber. The brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir will also be monitored to ensure that it stays filled to the proper level.

In some instances, a failing master cylinder may be the culprit behind braking problems and require a brake repair. This critical component translates the pressure from your foot into hydraulic pressure throughout the brake system. If the seals within the master cylinder begin to deteriorate, it can lead to internal fluid leaks, compromising braking power and potentially leading to a spongy brake pedal.

Your dealership’s service technicians have the knowledge and tools to diagnose and replace a faulty master cylinder. Your Mazda technicians can give always you an estimate of your remaining brake life, and that allows you to plan ahead for replacement parts and service.

Always Get Things Done Right

When the time does come for brake repair, your Mazda dealer is the best place for the job. We always use genuine Mazda brake components that are designed specifically for your vehicle, ensuring you always enjoy optimal performance and longevity. Aftermarket brake components are plentiful, but they may vary in quality and often won’t match the fit, function, and durability of the original-equipment parts. OEM brakes were designed to work in your Mazda, and all the manufacturing specs of your car are built around the assumption of OEM parts.

If your brakes are showing signs of wear, or if you’re just not sure when you last had them checked, Cutter Mazda of Honolulu, HI today or call our service center at (808) 564-9160.

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