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Your brakes keep you safe while on the road, but would you recognize the signs that mean you need an inspection? Brake failure can have serious consequences, so it's good practice to schedule a routine brake service at your trusted Buick dealership regularly. more Don’t Ignore These Signs – Your Buick May Need a Brake Check 1: Vibrating Pedal Your Buick brakes are precision engineered to apply pressure evenly every time you brake, allowing you to come to a smooth stop. When your brakes are starting to wear, friction from the brake pads against the rotors will be inconsistent. This uneven contact causes vibrations in the braking system that can be felt through the pedal or sometimes the steering wheel. If the vibrations stop when you release the brake, it's likely you have a brake problem. 2: Leaking Brake Fluid A noticeable puddle under your Buick is always an indication that you should head to your dealership for a service. If you don't have enough brake fluid in your system, it can lead to sudden failure, so you shouldn't hang around. It's not always easy to distinguish one fluid from another, but brake fluid is typically clear with a golden or yellow tint. As it degrades, it will darken, which is another sign that your brakes need attention. 3: Screeching Sound As your brakes are such a critical part of your car, there's a clever failsafe built into the system. If you hear a screeching noise when you brake, it means that it's time to schedule an inspection. The noise comes from a thin piece of metal that's attached to your brake pads, indicating that the pads are worn. Your brakes aren't about to immediately fail, but it's a sign that a replacement is due. 4: Pulling to One Side If you notice your car pulling to one side, there are many possible causes, and it could be something as simple as tire misalignment. However, if you notice the problem as you're braking rather than accelerating, it's likely to be a problem with your brakes. Most brakes wear more quickly on one side than the other, so as you slow down, one brake will be more effective. This causes the distinctive pulling and is a clear sign that your brakes need attention. Schedule a Brake Service at Your Nearest Buick Dealership By the time you reach 70,000 miles, most drivers will need to have their pads and rotors replaced, but depending on your driving habits, it may be sooner. A regular service at your local dealership can check your brakes for signs of wear, providing peace of mind that your Buick is safe. Whether you are overdue for a service or have spotted any of the above warning signs on your Buick, our trusted technicians can help. Contact us today at Mangino Buick GMC in Ballston Spa, NY, to schedule an appointment with our service team.

A car's brakes are the number one safety component of the entire vehicle. That's why getting regular brake service at your GMC dealer is so important. You need to make sure the brakes are in good enough condition to work effectively at all times. There are several ways to tell when your brakes need to be looked at, so let's go over some of them below. more Does Your GMC Need Brake Service? 5 Signs It's Time to Head to the GMC Dealer 1. The Brake Pads Look a Little Thin Take a look between the spokes of your wheels and locate the brake pads, which will be pressed up against a metal component called a rotor. Does the pad pressed against the rotor look a little on the thin side? If so, you should visit the dealer to have your brake pads inspected and, potentially, replaced. These pads should always be 1/4 of an inch thick at minimum. 2. The Brake Pads Are Getting Noisy Does your car make a high-pitched shrieking sound when you step on the brake pedal? This noise isn't a normal part of braking and will only occur when the brake pads are too thin. There's a metal component in your brake pads that's designed to scratch against the metal of your rotors when the brake pads need to be replaced. If they're not replaced, then your brake pads will get so thin that you hear a grinding noise, and your rotors may sustain some damage and need to be resurfaced or replaced. 3. The Brakes Are Becoming Less Responsive Does it seem like it's taking your car longer and longer to fully stop when you use the brakes? This is a sign of trouble. Usually, this problem indicates some kind of leak in the braking system. It could be an air leak in one of the brake hoses, or you may even have a brake fluid leak, so look for brake fluid around your vehicle after you've been parked for a while. 4. Brake Pedal Feels Different to Operate Have you noticed that stepping on the brake pedal has started to feel a little different? That's never a good sign, as it means there's a problem with the braking system. Sometimes a brake pedal that feels soft or spongy to step on indicates a brake fluid leak or air leak, just like with the problem above. 5. The Brake Pedal Vibrates Are you feeling some feedback when you step on the brake pedal? Usually, this means your rotors are warped. When the vibration is caused by warped rotors, you'll feel the vibration every time you brake. If you only feel the pedal vibrating during emergency stops, then it's most likely caused by your anti-lock brakes. Come by Mangino Buick GMC in Ballston Spa, NY for regular service on your brakes. If you notice any of the signs above, then make an appointment at our service department immediately.