Getting the Most out of Your Nissan: Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Healthy Brakes

It’s easy to drive your car with confidence when you can rely on your brakes to perform as you would expect them to. The combination of your brake pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid are all what makes your vehicle able to safely come to a complete stop. When any of these components are damaged or worn down, your vehicle’s performance and safety is at risk. In this guide, we will cover some of the warning signs of deteriorated brake components, and the actions you can take to ensure your vehicle’s brakes are in top shape!

Common Brake Issues to Look Out For

Brake parts will always wear down over time due to the constant use of the brakes while daily driving. Braking too hard or riding on the brakes at cruising speeds can both contribute to braking system failure later down the road. It’s always important to remember safe driving strategies to ensure your own safety, and the health of your vehicle. Below are some of the most common signs of brake failures that can affect the safety of your vehicle:

• The Brake Light is on: If there is an issue with your brakes, a warning light will illuminate on your Nissan’s instrument cluster. When this happens, it’s best to take your vehicle to your nearest Nissan dealership so our certified technicians can diagnose the issue.
• Squeaking or Squealing Noise: If you hear a squeaking or squealing sound when applying your brakes, it’s usually an indication that your brake pads need to be replaced.
• Brake Pedal Feels Soft: If you feel resistance as you push the brake pedal down, it’s most likely due to leakage of brake fluid. Driving with non-responsive brake pedals can be dangerous and it’s best to have your brake system repaired immediately.
• Brake Pedal Starts Vibrating: Your brake pedal should never move or vibrate under any circumstances. Often times when brake rotors get warped, they can cause a vibration when applying your foot down on the brake pedal.

Brake Maintenance Safety Procedures

Nissans are packed full of modern safety features to help protect you and your vehicle, but the braking system is still the most important safety component. Below are some of the components that make up your vehicle’s brakes, and the ways they can affect your daily driving if not properly maintained. If you have noticed issues with any of your brake components, our certified service technicians here at Victory Nissan of Dickson will be happy to take a look!

• Brake Pads: Your Nissan’s brake pads should be inspected regularly for wear and tear. Depending on your brake pads, driving conditions, and driving habits, your brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000-70,000 miles. Be sure to check your Nissan owner’s manual for a more detailed synopsis of your vehicle’s brake service intervals.
• Brake Fluid: Anytime you get your vehicle serviced, you should always have the brake fluid level inspected as well for any leaks or contamination. When water or debris gets mixed in with brake fluid, it can reduce the hydraulic pressure and weaken the effectiveness of your brakes.
• Brake Lines: If you notice that your brake pedal feels soft or squishy as you push it down, this could mean that air has gotten inside of your brake lines, or you have a leaky seal. If air is the reason for poor brake lines, then your Nissan certified technician will have to perform a “brake bleed”, which is the process of removing air bubbles from the hydraulic brake system.
• Brake Rotors: If you notice your steering wheel shaking or wobbling as you drive, this is usually an indication of worn-down brake rotors. Warped or rusty rotors can oftentimes be resurfaced back to their original form, however if they are no longer thick enough to resurface, then the rotors will have to be replaced.

Schedule a Brake Inspection at Victory Nissan of Dickson

Routine brake maintenance can help ensure the safety and performance of your Nissan vehicle. If you are experiencing issues with your brakes, or need a brake inspection, contact our service center to schedule an appointment today! Our certified service technicians are experts with Nissan vehicles and can help get your car back up and running in no time!