Chevrolet Brake Service, Repair, Maintenance

Brake Services

Get professional brake services for your vehicle at the Strosnider Chevrolet service center.

Schedule Service

Expert Brake Services near Richmond, VA

Chevrolet Brake Service, Repair, Maintenance

When to Get a Brake Repair Or Replacement

Sometimes, your vehicle’s brakes will alert you when there is trouble. Squealing noises, chirping sounds, and grinding are indications that brake repair is required. Bring in your vehicle to the Strosnider Chevy service center, and our GM certified technicians will run a brake diagnostic on the spot!

Schedule ServiceService Specials

Chevrolet Brake Service, Repair, Maintenance

Brake Pad Warning Indicator

GM brake pads often come equipped with a small, thin piece of metal attached to them to act as a warning indicator when the pad material is getting low and the brake pads should be replaced. This device makes a high-pitched sound on brake application, letting you know it is time for brake service.

Schedule ServiceService Specials

Are Your Brakes Signaling A Problem?

Not sure your brakes are performing their best? For your road safety, it's important to quickly recognize signs of reduced system performance. There are many indications you can keep an eye out for that will tell you if a brake service may be required.

Some signs to watch for are:

check_circle Pulsing brake pedal or shaking steering wheel when brakes are applied

check_circle Soft brake pedal

check_circle Squealing or grinding noise when brakes are applied

check_circle Unusual odor at the wheel area

check_circle Excessive brake dust on wheel

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Brake Service FAQ

How do I know when I need new brakes?

GM Brake pads are equipped with wear indicators that produce a squealing noise when the brakes are almost worn out. The noise may be present with or without the brake pedal applied, but when noise is heard from the wear indicator, the brake pads should be replaced as soon as possible.

Wear indicators are set to create noise when there is around 2 mm of brake pad friction material thickness remaining. In the case of assessing pad wear through inspection, pads should be replaced at or before 2 mm thickness is reached.

Rotors should be replaced before they reach this minimum thickness and should not be turned below this.

Must I always turn or replace my rotors when changing my pads?

No. If there are no conditions such as pedal pulsation or steering-wheel vibration during braking, and the brake rotor is at least 1 mm thicker than the discard thickness, then it does not need to be turned or replaced.

Do I have to replace my brake rotors after a certain amount of time?

No, but it is a good idea to check the condition of your rotors at every tire rotation.

Why does my brake pedal pulse?

Brake-pedal pulsation and other conditions such as steering-wheel shaking while braking are caused by thickness variation in the brake rotor when a thicker spot of the rotor rotates through the caliper, it pushes back against brake fluid, which can be felt at the brake pedal. The brake fluid and pedal then relax again as the thick spot exits the caliper. This process produces pedal pulsation and “brake torque variation,” which can shake the steering wheel and seats. Brake pulsation is not caused by warping of the disc. However, distortion of the disc due to excessive temperatures or improper installation and torquing of the wheels can lead to brake rotor thickness variation over time. Brake-pedal pulsation is corrected by turning and/or replacing the brake rotors to eliminate the thickness variation.

Why do my brakes squeal? How can I stop it?

Brake squeal is caused by the high-frequency vibration of brake components (rotor, calipers, and/or pads) in response to excitation from the brake friction process. A significant amount of time and engineering goes into eliminating brake squeal from original equipment brake components. Brake components are engineered as a complete system—factory-original performance can only be assured when using original equipment brake pads and rotors. When brake squeal occurs, there may be damage or excessive wear on one or more components affecting noise, including the brake pads, the noise-damping shim that is bonded to the brake pad, or the rotor friction surface.

In addition, it should be recognized that high-performance and track-capable brake systems using high-performance pad materials may be at higher risk for producing brake squeal noise, even when no damage to the components is present.

How long will my brake pads last?

Brake pad life depends on driving habits, vehicle usage, and operating environment. Brake systems are designed to provide 20,000 to 25,000 miles of pad life in very severe use (such as heavy-traffic urban areas) and can give 40,000 to 60,000 miles of pad life in average use. Some factors that will reduce pad life include frequent heavy braking, elevated temperatures (caused by high-speed braking, driving in mountainous areas), driving with the vehicle heavily loaded, and severe environments such as high-corrosion areas and areas with a lot of road debris and dust.

Are all brake rotors the same?

While brake rotors designed to fit the same vehicle will often be similar in appearance and dimensions, there can be differences in internal cooling vane design, thickness of the brake plates (against which the brake pad rubs), and the grade and material specification of the cast iron. For original equipment brake rotors, significant analysis and testing goes into determining the right geometry to minimize thermal distortion and squeal noise and to maximize cooling. Similar rigor is put into the material selection, which can also affect the risk of squeal noise as well as friction and wear properties.

Book a Brake Service at Strosnider Chevrolet

For better peace of mind, book a brake service at Strosnider, your Chevrolet dealership serving Prince George County.

Schedule ServiceService Specials

Contact Us

Leave us a voicemail
or send us a message

Give us a call at (804) 458-9864 or click here to send us a message!

5200 Oaklawn Blvd, Hopewell, VA 23860