Even the highest-quality brakes need to be regularly serviced. Brake failure accounts for over 300,000 road accidents per year and the lion’s share of these crashes are due to poorly maintained
brakes. So let’s take a look at how often you should visit your local Mazda dealer for brake service, plus a few significant signs that your brakes need to be inspected right away.
How Often Should You Get Routine Brake Service?
Have a Bi-Yearly Inspection
The easiest brake inspection schedule for most drivers to follow is once every six months. This frequency is recommended for most drivers and coincides nicely with the recommended schedule for a tire rotation and oil change.
Some drivers opt for a yearly brake inspection, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your brakes. A more frequent inspection will catch problems early on and prevent them from developing into something more dangerous to you and your passengers.
Severe Driving Conditions
Your driving style or conditions might be putting more strain on your brakes, in which case you should have your brakes serviced more often. Frequent driving with heavy loads or while towing a trailer puts a great deal more strain on your brakes. Constant braking due to heavy stop-and-go traffic or winding mountainous roads also causes brakes to wear down far faster.
Signs That Your Brakes Need Immediate Attention
Along with regular servicing, it’s important to keep an eye out for brake trouble. If you notice any of the following four problems, head to your local dealership for a prompt brake inspection.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Leaking brake fluid is a very serious issue. The hydraulic pressure inside your brake lines will be reduced by a leak, reducing the strength of your brakes. If you have a leak, you’ll find it harder to stop your car, and you might also notice a yellow or brown liquid pooling under your vehicle.
Brake Fade
While pressing on the pedal, if your braking feels sluggish, you might also be experiencing brake fade. This is where the brake pads and rotors have become overheated by too much continual use and have lost their gripping power.
If you ever experience brake fade, pull over and allow your brakes to cool down. Once back on the road, if your brakes still feel sluggish, head to your local dealership right away.
High-Pitched Squealing
The first mechanical part of any braking system to break down is usually the brake pads. These pads wear down a little each time they clamp the rotors to slow your vehicle. When they wear down to dangerous levels, brake pads will begin to emit an unmissable high-pitched squealing sound to let you know it’s time for replacements.
Brake Warning Light Blinking
If you’re driving the sophisticated 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan, or any other Mazda model, you’ll have a brake warning light on your dashboard. The sensitive computerized monitors in your braking mechanism will usually detect a problem long before you do, and let you know with this warning light. If you notice the light come on, it’s best not to ignore it. Head down to your local dealership to have your brakes inspected right away.
How a Mazda Dealer Inspects Your Brakes
After checking your brake fluid levels, a technician will examine all the brake lines and then raise your car to have a look underneath. They’ll remove the wheels, and also remove the brake calipers, rotors, and pads. They’ll inspect each individual piece with care, repairing or replacing any faulty parts. Finally, they’ll test your brakes extensively to ensure all is working well.
Have your brakes examined and serviced today by certified technicians at Tom Bush Mazda. We’re a trusted local dealership that’s been providing for the purchasing and servicing needs of the region’s Mazda drivers since 1974.
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