Regular Brake Inspections: Keeping Your Safe

It’s also a legal requirement that your brakes always work correctly. As your Porsche Center, we can repair any brake issue that can develop. These are a few signs you need to visit us for a brake inspection.

Signs You Need To Visit Your Porsche Center for a Brake Inspection

Low Brake Pressure

When you push down on the brake pedal, you should feel resistance. The resistance is provided by highly pressurized brake fluid and increases as you apply more pressure. This fluid supplies the hydraulic power that forces the braking system to work. It travels through the brake hoses to the calipers, pushing them against the rotors. Brake pads inside the calipers generate friction against the rotors that stop your wheels.

Low resistance from the pedal is caused by a fluid leak or a blockage in the brake hoses. This is dangerous, as the lack of pressure means your brakes take longer to respond, increasing your stopping distance and potentially causing an accident. We’ll examine your braking system and find and fix the problem.

Overheating Brake Fluid

Brake fluid needs regular replacement, as it gradually absorbs water. The water reduces the hydraulic power the fluid produces and can also overheat. If you brake frequently over a short time, the water in older fluid will overheat and burn. If this happens, you’ll detect a foul chemical stench from the brakes.

We advise pulling over ASAP and allowing your brake time to cool. The fluid doesn’t burn, but the heat from the boiling water prevents the fluid from generating hydraulic power. Without power, your brakes won’t work. Our technicians will drain the old fluid and replace it. We’ll also check the braking system for any damage and repair any we find.

Vibrations When You Brake

As we’ve seen, the calipers clamp against the rotors, producing the friction that stops your Porsche. All four calipers clamp against their rotors simultaneously to stop your Porsche smoothly and efficiently, and the rotors must be smooth for the calipers to grab them effectively. Braking generates heat, which can cause brake pad adhesive to liquefy.

The liquified adhesive will spread across the rotor, hardening in seconds due to the heat. Over time, more adhesive will build up on the rotor, turning the surface irregular. When a caliper grabs an irregular surface, it creates a jolt that you’ll feel through the pedal. Our technicians will fix this issue by cleaning or resurfacing the rotor to renew its smooth surface so the calipers can work effectively.

If you have a brake problem, don’t risk driving with bad brakes. Schedule a brake inspection today at Porsche Tysons Corner in Vienna, VA.