November 26, 2023
If you notice your brakes aren’t working like they used to, that’s the kind of thing that’s important to have checked out soon. That’s because your brakes are extraordinarily important to the safe operation of your vehicle.
Sometimes you feel like your brake pedal is feeling a little soft or it’s lower than usual. Or you might feel like the brakes are on all the time, holding you back. Maybe when you release the brake pedal, it comes back up more slowly than usual. There are a few different problems that can cause your brakes to feel like any of those things, so bring your vehicle in to us and we can inspect them.
One possible cause of those brake issues is a damaged or worn-out brake hose. Your hydraulic brakes work by carrying brake fluid to each of your wheels. There are steel lines that carry the fluid most of the way, but because your wheels are moving all the time, a flexible hose is used to connect the steel lines and the brakes themselves.
Sometimes those brake hoses leak, since there’s a lot of pressure inside when you use your brakes dozens or hundreds of times a day. Road debris, aging, and corrosion at the hose fittings can loosen up that connection. Sometimes the hoses can get blocked up if the interior lining separates from the outside. And sometimes, it’s simply a matter of the hose getting too old, and age eventually causes the rubber to fail.
When you experience brake problems, bring your vehicle in so we can have a technician take a look. Visual and manual inspections can usually pinpoint the problem areas. The technician will look for corrosion and physical damage, plus run a pressure check.
For your vehicle to be safe on the road, your brakes need to be working the way they were designed to. Stop. And think about it!
Tuffy Grand Rapids (Fuller Ave)
1121 Fuller Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.458.8091
http://www.tuffyfullerave.com
September 14, 2025
When's the last time you thought about spark plugs? You probably don't remember. That's because spark plugs usually last a long time and don't need much attention. But they don't last forever, and when they start going bad, they'll send you a few clues. Vehicle is hard to start. Fuel economy ... More
September 8, 2025
In the hot weather, seeing steam coming from the engine compartment is something we all dread. No one wants that to happen to them. But if you know the signs of overheating and how to deal with it, you may be able to reduce the risk of damage to your vehicle, maybe even prevent getting stranded ... More
September 1, 2025
You notice when your smartphone's battery starts to go weak on you. It runs out of juice faster than it did when it was new. Bet you pay attention to that pretty closely. Unfortunately, many of us don't pay the same attention to the battery in our vehicles. If your battery got you through the c... More