Texas
Every driver knows how essential their brakes are, and we won’t leave the importance of this assembly of parts understated either: without properly functioning brakes, your Jaguar is a safety hazard to you and those around you. Therefore keeping on top of brake servicing and repair is vital, and in this article we’ll be learning more about what your brakes need from you.
Brake Servicing
As mentioned, your brakes are a collection of different parts which all work together to keep your Jag safe. Therefore, ‘brake servicing’ can refer to a variety of different processes that need to be undertaken at different stages over the lifespan of your brakes. These maintenance processes usually take place as part of your all-around yearly servicing, so it’s important to keep up-to-date with them.
To give some examples of servicing practices, the brake pads and shoes need replacing every 20,000-60,000 miles dependant on the vehicle and driving habits, and the brake rotor will sometimes either need to be polished or replaced at the same time that the pads are replaced. The brake caliper, however only needs to be replaced when required, and the brake fluid needs to be flushed out once every 2 years.
Brake servicing is defined by mechanics as a performance-based service, which is why the time and mileage estimates for repair are so vague. This is because, aside from being inspected as part of a yearly service or at every oil change, whether or not your Jag’s brakes need looking at will all depend on how they feel and how they perform. There are a huge number of factors that can determine how often your brakes need servicing including:
- Make and model of car, as some cars have inherent brake issues.
- Driving style and habits, because some habits such as riding the brakes or hitting the brakes hard cause the brake pads to deteriorate more quickly.
- Age of vehicle, as older vehicles tend to develop more issues more quickly.
- Your Location. City driving results in a lot of stop-and-go driving which causes brakes to deteriorate quickly, and locations with steep elevation can also put an increase toll upon the brakes.
- The climate/weather you drive in. Adverse weather conditions will always increase the rate of decline of car parts. High temperatures can also increase impact.
- Brake Pad Compound, because brake pads come in different formulations, and some are harder than others. Harder pads tend to last longer than soft compound pads, but give less immediate performance than soft pads. Soft pads are also at an increased risk of melting.
- Materials Used. The parts of your Jag’s brake system can be made up of a variety of different materials. Standard metal brakes, for example, don’t tend to last as long as more high-end carbon-ceramic
Signs your Jaguar Needs Servicing and Repair
If your Jaguar is experiencing any one of these symptoms then you should bring it in for repair as soon as possible to ensure your car remains safe and roadworthy:
- Hearing Noises When Applying the Brakes: Your brakes should always operate silently. Any clunking, screeching, or squealing needs to be investigated.
- Your Car Doesn’t Slow Swiftly: If you find you have to press the pedal hard or that your brakes seem sluggish to respond then they need servicing.
- Brake Warning Light: Any warning light your Jaguar’s dash displays should never be ignored.
- Brake Fluid Leak: Your brakes need pressurized fluid to operate correctly, so any type of leak inhibits this.
- Thin Brake Pads: You should inspect your brake pads periodically to ensure they aren’t getting worn thin. Thin brake pads need to be replaced.
- Jerky Braking: If your car seems to jerk or jitter when braking, then your Jaguar might have warped rotors which will need servicing or replacing.
European Service Center
Texans and Georgians can benefit from the expert services of our team at European Service Center. We have 8 locations, which means that we are able to help the communities of Dallas, Houston, and Plano, TX, as well as the drivers of Alpharetta, Chamblee, Cumming, Norcross, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, and Atlanta, GA with brake servicing and repair as well as a variety of other maintenance servicing including A/C repair, transmission repair, and tire services. Call us today to find out how we can help you.