It's important to take care of your brakes, and they'll be able to take care of you when you need them. To keep your brakes operating effectively they need to have regular servicing. The brake system is a relatively simple one, but parts can wear or break. Any damage to the brake system can place you and your car in danger. When you need a brake repair, it's time to see your Ford dealer. Signs You'll Need a Brake Repair at Your Ford Dealer Screeching Brakes Your brakes don't make a sound when they work. This makes hearing a screeching sound from the brakes even more disconcerting. The high-pitched screech is a warning sign that your brake pads need to be replaced. Your brake pads provide the friction resistance that's needed to slow and stop your car. The pads achieve this through their friction material covering. The friction material cover on a brake pad is 1/2" thick, but it gradually wears down each time you use the brakes. When the pad thickness drops to 1/4" thick, it reveals a metal spike placed in the pad by the manufacturers. The next time you use your brakes, the spike on the worn pad will scratch the metal rotor and make a screeching sound. This means it's time to change your pads. more Wobbling Steering Wheel Pressure from the brake fluid will cause the brake calipers to close on either side of the wheel rotors. The smooth surface of the wheel rotors aids the grip of the calipers. If you feel a wobble or vibration in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes, this suggests that there's a problem with the surface of one or more of your rotors. The surface of a wheel rotor can rust, or it can suffer a buildup of waste from the friction material on the brake pads. Constant contact between the brake pad and the rotor for a long period will also wear part of the rotor surface. Our technicians will examine the surface of your rotors, and we'll repair or replace them depending on the level of damage. Your Car Veers to One Side If you hit the brakes and your car veers towards one side, this means that part of your brake system has failed. We saw above the pressure from the brake fluid closes the calipers against the rotors. If your car veers towards one side, this means there's a problem with your brakes on the opposite side. Two possible causes of this failure are a rusted or damaged caliper or a problem with the brake hose. If the brake hose on one side is blocked or damaged, the brake fluid won't be able to exert any pressure on the caliper to close it. If a caliper is damaged, it may not close. Your car will automatically pull towards the side with a working brake. For your safety, it's vital to have any braking problem checked immediately. If you suspect a problem, call us right away at Ken Ganley Ford, Inc.