How Your Brakes Work & Brake Maintenance Tips

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– The most important safety components in your vehicle are your brakes. Your brakes can be the difference between you and a collision on the road. Keeping them properly maintained and cared for is extremely vital to your safety. Learn how your brakes work & brake maintenance tips to keep you and your passengers safe while on the road. Find out what makes this crucial component work and what you can do to extend the life of your brakes today!

How Brakes Work

When you're driving on the road, your vehicle uses kinetic energy, or energy in motion, to help move it along at quick speeds. Your brakes work to eliminate that kinetic energy by using friction, which changes the kinetic energy to heat. Putting your foot on your brake pedal transmits hydraulic fluid through a series of pipes into a variety of cylinders next to the brakes on your wheels. This system multiplies the force you apply on your brakes to cause your vehicle to slow to a stop. 

Most vehicles consist of disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear wheels (you can find out what types of brakes your vehicles have by consulting your owner's manual). Disc brakes, located on your front wheels, are made up of brake discs, calipers, and pads. When you press down on your brake pedal, the hydraulic fluid in your brakes cause your caliper to press your brake pad against your brake's disc. This creates friction, which allows your vehicle to slow down. Drum brakes, which are equipped on your back wheels, consist of a brake drum and brake shoes. When you press down on your brake pedal, the brake shoes push against the surface of your brake drums, slowing your back wheels to a stop.

Brake Maintenance Tips

Want to make sure your brakes last as long as possible? Use a few of our tips below to increase your safety on the road:

• Keep a consistent maintenance schedule: You should have your brakes inspected every 12,000 miles, or whenever your vehicle owner's manual tells you to. If you aren't sure when you last had your brakes inspected, schedule an appointment with us to have them looked at right away!
• Watch your speeds: Driving at high speeds increases the kinetic energy of your vehicle, which means braking at higher speeds can generate more heat on your brake pads. Too much heat can wear your brake pads down at a very fast rate, so make sure to watch your speeds on the road!
• Carry less: If you tend to travel with a lot in your vehicle, that additional weight can generate more friction when you brake, which can wear your brake's components down at a much faster rate than normal. Carry less when you drive to prevent this from happening!
• Practice coasting: Working hand in hand with watching your speed, coasting can help to generate less kinetic energy when you eventually have to brake, which will extend the life of your brakes. Try to coast more so that your brakes last longer!
• Pay attention to signs of wear: Your brakes are equipped with a variety of safety measures and components to inform you when certain parts are in need of repair. Make sure you know how to spot the signs of brake wear so you know when to get your brakes looked at!

At North Brothers Ford, your safety is our top priority. We want you and your passengers to be the safest they can be on the on the road, no matter how short or long your drive may be. Knowing how your brakes work and brake maintenance tips can make the difference between you and an accident. If you want to remain proactive to prevent any damage to your brakes, read up on our brake service advice to find out more information about brake care. Need your brakes looked at? Schedule a brake inspection with us and use our service specials and coupons to save money on your next service!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: http://www.northbrosford.net

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Spot the Signs of Brake Wear

WESTLAND, Mich.,–– Your brakes are some of the most important components on your vehicle. Keeping your brakes in peak condition is the best way to keep safe on the road. Without properly maintained brakes, you'll have trouble slowing down and can damage important components of your vehicle. While you may not think about them too often, knowing how to spot the signs of brake wear will save you costly repairs in the future and will keep you safe while you drive.

Braking Takes Longer than Normal

One of the easiest ways to find out whether or not your brakes need replacing is by testing the brakes yourself. If you're noticing that it's taking longer to slow down than it used to, you may be experiencing brake fade. Brake fade is most common when drivers brake for extended periods of time, causing the pads to make repeated contact with the rotors for long periods of time, increasing friction and wearing down their components. Driving in hilly areas and repeatedly braking over the course of your drive can negatively impact your vehicle. Following our brake service advice can extend the life of your brake pads and make all the difference in the world on the road!

Screeching Sound While You Brake

If you hear a loud screeching sound when you brake, it may be time to have your brakes looked at. The piece causing the noise, called an indicator, is used to inform you when your brakes have been worn down so that know it's time to get them checked out. Typically, this screeching occurs when your brake pads need replacing. Your brake pads are one of the most important components of your brakes, as they're the main line of defense when it comes to braking on the road. Schedule an appointment with us to have your brake pads looked at if you hear any screeching while you brake!

Grinding Sounds While Braking

Do you hear a louder grinding sound whenever you apply the brakes? This sound can happen when your brakes' calipers and discs rub together, causing the components to warp, or "score", creating an uneven surface. With uneven surfaces on your brakes, you're unable to effectively slow down, which can lead to further vehicle damage and costly repairs. Pay attention to the signs of rotor repair to determine whether or not your vehicle will require additional maintenance!

Vibrating Brake Pedal

If your brake pedal vibrates as you apply pressure to it, it could mean that your vehicle needs realignment or rotor replacement. Rotors can become warped under conditions of extreme heat and pressure. This can occur when you brake for long periods of time, and can usually occur when drivers excessively brake driving downhill. You feel a vibration on the brake pedal because the brakes are unable to grip the road efficiently. If you feel your brake pedals beginning to vibrate, be sure to give your vehicle's brakes time to cool down and get them inspected if you're worried!

Vehicle Turns While Braking

If your vehicle forces or pulls you to the left or right while you brake, it can mean that your brake linings have been unevenly worn or that your brake fluid may need flushing and replacing. Uneven brake linings can cause one brake pad to work less effectively than the other, causing an awkward distribution of weight, which can make the vehicle turn on its own. Brake fluid, on the other hand, keeps the components of your brakes lubricated. Over time, brake fluid can run low, which can cause an uneven distribution of fluid to brake pads and make the vehicle pull in a specific direction. If you're noticing your vehicle turn while you brake, contact us right away and we'll happily help you get your brakes back up to speed!

It never hurts to have your brakes looked at, especially if they're screeching, grinding, vibrating, or causing your vehicle to turn. If you can spot the signs of brake wear, you'll be able to remain ahead of the curve in the event that you need your brakes repaired or replaced. For the rest of the month of August, we're offering free brake inspections, so if you're worried about the status of your brakes, have our knowledgable Service Staff take a look at them, free of charge! We also offer brake repair coupons if you do need your brakes repaired or replaced to help you save some money. For more advice on brake maintenance, take a look at our brake service advice page for a quick walkthrough on preventative maintenance for your brakes!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: http://www.northbrosford.net

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+

Carpool Maintenance Checklist

WESTLAND, Mich.––Are you planning a carpool for this school year? Maybe it's with a family friend that lives down the road, or with some kids in the neighborhood. Whomever you're toting around, we first of all commend you as a group for making an effort to save on gas, but we want you to be safe doing so. When you're carpooling, you're not just responsible for your safety, but others' safety as well! With our Carpool Maintenance Checklist, you can easily ensure your car, crossover, SUV, or van is ready to get everyone where they need to be, safely.

1. Check Your Tires

This August was National Tire Safety Month. In fact, we have plenty of resources including our Tire Maintenance tips blog, that you can use when you're doing routine maintenance. The main tips to use when checking your tires are: 1.) Make sure each tire is inflated properly and equally. You can find this number on the sticker on the inside of your driver's door. Do this while your tires are 'cold', or haven't been driven in hours. 2.) Have your tires rotated at your next oil change to ensure your tires are wearing evenly. This can help extend the life of your tires. 3.) Visually inspect your tires for any uneven tread wear, tread depth, and for any bulging or unusual looking damage.

2. Have Your Oil Changed

As simple as it might sound, this is one of the easiest ways to keep your car in good shape. This will help your engine components run efficiently, wear less quickly, and help prevent your engine from overheating. Every 3,000-5,000 miles is when you should have your oil changed. Most times, synthetic or a synthetic blend will be used or recommended, which can help extend the service interval towards 5,000 miles.

3. Inspect Your Brakes

Your brakes are one of the most important safety components, so having them checked will ensure you have the stopping power needed in any situation. If you don't know your way around the brakes, you can have them checked quickly at your next oil change at North Brothers. Some signs you can look out for if your brakes need service include: a squealing noise when applying brakes, soft or spongy feeling brakes, shaky steering wheel when stopping, and a visibly worn brake pad.

4. Put On New Wiper Blades

You can do this step right at home, but we can take care of it at your next oil change if that's more convenient for you! We recommend investing in a quality pair of wiper blades so you're prepared for any foggy, rainy, or snowy (yes, it's possible in Michigan) morning. Remember, your wiper blades allow you to see the road clearly and can be a lifesaver in some situations.

5. Test All Your Seat Belts

Whether you have a short or long drive to your destination, your seat belts are of the utmost importance. Taking a minute or two to check and test all the seat belts in your vehicle will give you peace of mind. Make sure to enforce a seat belt policy with your carpool group so everyone is equally safe.


If it's just you doing the carpooling and would like help completing your checklist, bring your vehicle into our well-equipped Service Center and we'll have you taken care of. If there are multiple participants in your carpool group, send this Carpool Maintenance Checklist out so you can ensure you and/or your child is safe when others are driving.

You can raise your awareness on what your car needs throughout the year by referencing our Seasonal Maintenance and Routine Maintenance pages. We're here to help you with anything auto. If you have any questions about your Dashboard Lights, Ford SYNC technology, or have auto service or collision service needs, please let us know!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+