Blog

Taking your Kia in for regular oil changes is extremely important. However, it's important to be aware of signs to indicate your vehicle needs extra maintenance work. One thing to keep an eye on is your brakes and brake repair signs. Specifically, the brake pads are essential to maintain. Here are some signs that you should head to your local Kia dealer to have your brake pads replaced. Stopping Your Vehicle Takes Longer Than Usual If you find you need to brake harder to stop than you usually do, or if your usual braking pattern doesn't slow you down as quickly as it used to, this is a major indicator that you need to get your brakes checked. Over time when the pads of your brakes connect with the rotors, this mechanism heats up and wears them down. If you drive in a hilly area on a regular basis, you may find your brakes wear out faster than if you don't because of the more constant braking. more You Hear Noises If you hear a clicking or rattling sound when you brake, this is an indication that the pads on your brakes are wearing out or are loosening and should get checked. Hearing a squealing or loud whining noise when you take your foot off the brake can mean that the brake warning indicator is rubbing against the rotor. Any strange noises from your brakes should get investigated immediately. Your Brake Pedal Feels Different When Pressed If your brake pedal feels like it's vibrating under your foot, or you get a pulsing reaction, this is a warning sign your brakes need to get checked as soon as possible. When it's worn down, the resin adhesive that holds the pads in place heats up and spreads around the disc which is what causes the loosening and shaking feeling in the pedal. The Front of Your Vehicle Pulls to the Side When You Stop When your brakes don't wear down at the same rate this can create a pulling to either the left or right when you stop because of the thinness of the pad on one side. If left unchecked this issue can not only pose safety risks but can lead to steering issues. This pulling to one side could also indicate a tire or a faulty wheel bearing, however, any pulling or uneven steering is something that needs to get checked by a mechanic. They Look Worn In most vehicles, you can look between the spokes of your wheel and see the pads on your brakes. You should see about a quarter of an inch of pad pressed against the metal rotor. If one or more pads measure less than that, get them checked. Your Kia Dealer Recommends It Often your brakes will get checked while your vehicle is in for an oil change or other routine maintenance. You can always request for your brakes to get checked occasionally as well. Your mechanic should give you an estimation of how long you have left on your pads. Need New Kia Brake Pads in Frederick, MD? Visit Our Kia Dealership At DARCARS Kia of Frederick, we are committed to incredible service in all departments. Our factory-trained service technicians are committed to keeping your vehicle safe and reliable for years to come. Contact us today at our Frederick, MD Kia dealership to ask questions or book service.

Whether you've had your Kia for just a couple of years or owned your Kia for a decade, you have to perform regular maintenance on your vehicle to ensure it is safe for the road. This includes keeping your brakes in working condition. We don't often think about our brakes until they don't work, which is not a good idea, as it can turn into a lengthy and expensive repair. Learn to recognize the signs that your car needs a brake repair by reading below! 1. Squeaking or Grinding Noises When brake pads start wearing out, you'll hear a squeaking or squealing noise when you press on your brake pedal. This is an intentional design to make drivers aware that their brake pads need to be replaced soon. If you ignore the noise for long enough, you can start hearing a grinding noise, which is indicative of a larger problem. This means that the brake pad could be completely gone and you're now squeezing the rotor when you brake. more 2. Brake Light Comes On Of course, the more obvious sign that you need to have your brakes inspected is if your car's brake light comes on. When you see the brake light, it's typically letting you know that you need more brake fluid, but it could be an indication of a bigger problem with your brakes. You should get your vehicle to a Kia Service Center quickly for brake diagnostic. 3. Brake Pedal Feels Squishy If your brake starts to feel differently when you press on it, pay attention to the change. A squishy feeling, which may also feel like it's taking longer for your vehicle to stop when you push the pedal, could mean that your car is leaking brake fluid. There are other brake problems that this could indicate as well, so it's important that you bring your vehicle in for service right away to avoid making the problem worse. 4. Burning Smell When You Brake When there is a burning smell when you press on the brakes, this is an indication that you have been "riding" the brakes or using them too often. This is a frequent occurrence when you're coming down a steep slope and have to use your brakes to keep the vehicle in control. You want to let your brakes cool down before continuing when this happens. Then, schedule an appointment to have your brakes inspected right away. 5. Steering Wheel Shakes If your steering wheel shakes when you brake, or it pulls to one side, it could mean that your rotor is warped and needs to get straightened out. Your brake pads are not able to apply to the rotor evenly, which is causing your steering wheel to vibrate as you work to keep your car straight. This is a brake condition that will likely need repair by an experienced mechanic. Visit for Professional Kia Brake Repair in Frederick, MD Your Kia's brakes are critical to keeping you and your passengers safe on the road. This is not a maintenance issue that you can afford to delay, and we want to keep your Kia running great. Schedule a brake service at DARCARS Kia of Frederick to get your brakes inspected and repaired by certified technicians!