Blog / Flagstaff GMC Service

Does Your GMC Vehicle Need a Brake Repair?

While you can put off some vehicle repair jobs, any issues with the brakes should be handled immediately. Brake failure is far more likely to happen if a driver ignores early warning signs of a developing problem. If you experience the following indications of brake trouble, head to your local GMC dealer without delay for brake repair. 

Squealing Noises

If you hear a high-pitched squealing or squeaking sound, the most common cause will be a worn-out brake pad. When the friction layer on brake pads becomes too thin, they're usually designed to make this distinctive squealing sound in order to draw your attention. You'll need to have the brake pad replaced promptly.

Grinding Sounds

Stones or loosened bolts and pins getting stuck in the caliper might create a grinding or clattering sound. Grinding noises might also be caused by an excessively worn-down brake pad where the friction layer has disappeared entirely. In this case, the pad needs to be replaced immediately before it damages the rotor.

Reduced Stopping Power

Brakes should always be strong and highly responsive. If you ever sense a reduction in the stopping power of your brakes, it's safest to pull over and try to figure out the problem. Weakened brakes may have started to overheat from excessive use; overheating can sometimes cause a temporary loss of stopping power. 

Burning Smell

Overheating brakes might also create a burning smell. This smell primarily comes from the brake fluid starting to boil inside the hoses. It's best never to ignore a burning smell inside your car.

Soft-Feeling Brakes

When brake fluid leaks or lessens for any reason, hydraulic pressure is reduced inside the brake hoses. This hinders the stopping signal as it travels from your foot on the brake pedal to the calipers, making driving unsafe. The reduced hydraulic pressure may also make the brake pedal feel softer than usual.

Veering to One Side

If your car veers to one side when you press the brake pedal, you probably have a brake problem on the other side of your car. In this case, both your stopping power and handling may be significantly reduced until you get the problem fixed.

Vibrating Pedal

When a rotor disc in a car's brakes becomes warped because of age or overheating, you may feel vibrations through the brake pedal. A warped rotor can sometimes be repaired with a resurfacing procedure, but a severely damaged rotor usually needs to be replaced. 

Have Regular Brake Servicing at Your Local GMC Dealer

Routine brake servicing is crucial for safe driving. It's generally recommended to have brakes serviced twice a year. If you put your brakes through particularly heavy daily usage by commuting in stop-and-go traffic or driving on steep mountainous roads, then you may need to have your brakes serviced three or even four times a year. Have your brakes serviced and repaired today by qualified technicians at Oxendale GMC. We're a locally trusted full-service dealership with an excellent range of vehicles and great customer service as well.

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6 Signs Your GMC Needs a Brake Repair

Certain warning signs will appear when you need a brake repair from your local GMC dealership. The problems are hard to miss, so you'll know when it's time to visit the dealership before the problem goes on for too long and causes major problems with your car. more 1. The ABS Light Is On Cars have a built-in mechanism that tells you when there's something wrong with the braking system. If the ABS light illuminates on the dashboard, then get to the dealer straight away, even if your car isn't showing other signs that there's a problem. 2. The Brakes Make Noise When Used Brakes make squealing or grinding noises when used because they need new brake pads. When the problem isn't bad, you'll hear squealing, like a small piece of metal is scraping against another metal surface. This is a built-in component of the brake pad designed to alert you to the fact that the pads need to be replaced. Over time, more and more of the pad wears away until there's little to no brake pad left. This leaves the rotor and brake caliper to scrape against each other, and they'll damage each other over time. 3. The Rotor Has Grooves It's a good idea to perform visual inspections of various parts of your vehicle every few weeks. This includes your rotors. If you see grooves on them, or they look in any other way abnormal, then get to the dealer. They may need to be turned or replaced. 4. The Brake Pads Look Thin If your brake pads look thin, around 1/4 of an inch thick or less, then visit the dealership. You need 1/4 of an inch of pad minimum to drive safely, and pretty soon, you'll probably start hearing the brake pad wear indicator scratching against your rotors. 5. The Brakes Perform Badly If your brakes aren't responding or if it's taking longer for you to stop when you use the brake pedal, then you need to go to the dealership as soon as possible. Continuing to drive with your brakes and this condition can endanger you and others, especially if the problem gets worse over time. 6. The Brake Pedal Feels Different If your brake pedal feels different while in use, even if the difference is subtle, visit the dealership to get it checked out. It's common for brake issues to make the pedal feel spongy or like there's no resistance when you use it. Most of these problems are pretty simple to fix, and our technicians can tackle them head-on. Come get your braking system repaired at Oxendale GMC in Flagstaff, AZ.

GMC Towing Capabilities: Maintenance for Optimal Performance

Hauling heavy trailers and boats can stress some of your truck's most vital parts, such as the engine, brakes, and transmission. To ensure your truck is always in optimal trailering condition, you need to schedule routine GMC towing maintenance at your GMC dealer. Learn about the key systems that need routine service today. more When it comes to maintenance that supports the towing capabilities of your truck, it's best to start under the hood. A basic oil change can go a long way to enhancing the performance and power of your engine, particularly if you spend a lot of time on the road. Additionally, you will want to keep an eye on other fluid levels in your vehicle, such as differential fluid, transmission fluid, and coolant. Because trailering and towing require a lot of power from your engine to generate the torque necessary to move extra heavy loads, you will need to pay special attention to your cooling system. Depending on your truck, you may have a radiator and external coolers that prevent the engine from overheating, and the coolant for all of these coolers needs to be changed frequently so you get the best performance from your truck. Hitch and Wiring For trailering safety on the road, you should check your hitch and wiring systems any time you use your truck for towing. Taking the time to double-check the tightness of your hitch attachment and the security of your receiver pin can ensure your truck is ready to tow. If your trailer supports an electrical wiring system, be sure to check the connectors and performance of the trailer lights each time you prepare for travel. Tires and Brakes It's essential to have tires with good tread when you are hauling a trailer behind your truck. When your tires have high tread, you have better traction on the road that supports your torque and braking. Brake pads should also be routinely checked to make sure you can bring your truck and trailer to a complete stop quickly. When Should You Visit Your GMC Dealer for GMC Towing Maintenance? When you frequently use your GMC truck to tow heavy hauls, it's crucial to keep up with routine maintenance. Your owner's manual recommends service intervals every 7,500 miles for tasks like checking the quality of the brake pads, rotating tires, changing motor oil, and replacing the oil filter. For average drivers, this means scheduling service every six months to maintain the top towing capability of the truck. The most essential parts of your truck that need maintenance for optimal towing performance are the wiring system, brake system, and cooling system. Your local dealership is equipped with all the wear-and-tear parts you need to streamline your truck's towing capability. Schedule service at Oxendale GMC in Flagstaff, AZ.

Keep Your GMC Running Smoothly: Schedule Your Regular Maintenance Check

Keep Your GMC Running Smoothly: Schedule Your Regular Maintenance Check

When it comes to GMC maintenance, nobody knows your truck or SUV better than a GMC dealer. That's because our expert, factory-trained technicians see GMCs day-in and day-out, and with state-of-the-art technology, our team can help keep your GMC running smoothly and dependably for years to come. more "When Should I Schedule My Service?" When It's Time Whether it's by months or by miles, there are two maintenance schedules to be aware of. The first is the lifespan of your engine oil. Keep in mind that mileage isn't the only indicator to change your oil; engine oil can degrade over time in the vehicle. So if you're running up against the time limit on your oil change, you should schedule a maintenance appointment for an oil change to keep your engine clean and healthy. Your vehicle will also require regular maintenance at specific milestones in its lifespan, usually measured in miles. Because each vehicle is different, you should check your owner's manual (or simply call our friendly and qualified service team and ask). Mileage services usually involve more work than a simple oil change, offering vehicle health inspections, filter service, brake maintenance, and more. When It Asks GMCs are pretty smart. In fact, with the myGMC mobile app and a compatible GMC, you can get vehicle status at a glance, along with fuel and tire pressure levels. The app can also notify you if the vehicle needs maintenance, whether you're creeping up on a mileage-based service or something has changed within the vehicle. Of ​course, dashboard lights can also indicate maintenance needs. When Something's Amiss Even with great preventive maintenance, things can go amiss. Debris can get lodged in brake calipers, engine air filters can get clogged early in particularly sandy, dusty, or pollen-heavy areas, and more. If you notice a change in performance, a change in sound, a new and unexplained vibration, or anything else that just doesn't seem right, your best bet is to schedule a maintenance visit right away and let our qualified team take a look. What Will the Team Do for My GMC? While ultimately the answer to this question is "whatever it needs", the specifics are more dependent on your vehicle: when it is in its lifecycle, if you're coming in for preventative maintenance or a current issue, and more. Our team can offer oil changes, tire services, brake services, battery checks, or even engine and transmission work if need be. And peace of mind comes standard with a Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection from our certified service experts. But no matter what you come in for, our GMC-certified technicians are on hand with advanced diagnostics tools to pinpoint issues and get them fixed right away. So go ahead and schedule your next service appointment at Oxendale GMC in Flagstaff, AZ, and let our team care for your GMC.