Brakes are probably the most important safety feature in your Mitsubishi, as they give you complete control over your speed. They allow you to slow down and stop exactly when you need to. In time, braking components can become worn or damaged and you’ll need to visit your Mitsubishi dealer for a brake repair. These are a few signs that you could have a brake problem.
Leaking Brake Fluid
Your Mitsubishi brakes are designed to provide split-second response. When you hit the brakes, highly pressurized brake fluid is forced into the brake hoses. This fluid produces the hydraulic power that forces your brake calipers to grab both sides of each wheel rotor. The caliper squeezes against the rotors and produces friction, which brings your vehicle to a stop.
Leaking fluid reduces pressure in the system, which increases your brake response time. In addition, a lack of fluid reduces the hydraulic power that your brakes depend upon to work effectively. We’ll check your braking system for any leaks and permanently seal any that we find.
Strange Smells
Something fishy takes on a new meaning if you smell a fish oil-like stench when you hit the brakes. As we’ve seen, brake fluid provides the vital hydraulic power for your brakes to engage. Healthy brake fluid is pale yellow and darkens over time into a mustard color. As brake fluid ages, its hydraulic properties reduce, and it becomes susceptible to overheating.
The high pressure in your braking system generates heat. Older brake fluid can overheat in these conditions and produce a rancid fish oil smell. If you smell this when you’re driving, we advise pulling over ASAP and allowing your brake fluid to cool down before driving off. Overheating brake fluid won’t produce hydraulic power, which prevents your brakes from working. We can fix this problem by draining your braking system and refilling it with fresh fluid.
Pulling to One Side
Your braking system is designed so all four calipers clamp against the rotors simultaneously. If you experience the strange sensation of your Mistubishi pulling to one side when you brake, you have a brake problem. The most common causes of this problem are a blockage in the brake line or a damaged brake caliper.
A blockage in a brake hose can prevent brake fluid from forcing a caliper to close. In this situation, your car will automatically turn towards the side with a working brake. The second possibility is that the affected caliper is damaged and doesn’t grab the rotor successfully to bring it to a stop. We’ll examine your brakes and fix the cause of the problem.
If you have a brake problem, call us ASAP at Tim Short Mitsubishi.
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