Flooded Wheels Can Cause the Need for Brake Repair in Columbia MO

by | Apr 10, 2019 | Auto Repair Shop

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With numerous areas in the Midwest affected by flooding once the winter’s exceptionally heavy snowfall started to melt, many vehicle owners had to deal with problems related to these episodes. Brake Repair in Columbia MO or full replacement of components may be necessary.

In some cases, vehicles had to remain parked in water halfway up the tires, up to the doors, or even higher. If drivers decided to travel through deep water at a dip in the road, they could risk ruining the brakes. Driving through a deep puddle is quite different from traveling in a heavy rainstorm or going through a car wash. Immersion of a large area of the wheels causes the damage.

Try Pumping the Brakes

Pumping the brakes after getting a car washed at a commercial facility is useful for quickly ending any unusual braking activity or noises. That’s not always the case when the wheels have been immersed in water, but repeatedly pumping the pedal after reaching dry land can eliminate the water from the system. The best strategy is to accelerate and brake, and repeat until the pedal no longer feels soft.

Water in Brake Lines

In one of the worst-case scenarios, water entering the brake fluid lines causes the brakes to fail immediately or later on. If the problem occurs later, the situation can be especially hazardous because the driver might be traveling at a relatively high rate of speed or in traffic.

Warped Rotors

Water covering the wheels also can cause the rotors to warp. This is an issue that normally happens after many miles are put on the car, but the process speeds up dramatically due to wheel flooding. Brake Repair in Columbia MO is necessary because the pedal starts to pulse instead of grab, making a fast stop impossible.

Dirty Components

The brake components may need to be cleaned at a repair shop such as Auto Tech Of Columbia LLC if debris got inside the wheels. That can happen during a flood or when driving through a deep area of water. Mud, leaves, evergreen needles, and bits of trash can get inside. This compromises effective brake function and deteriorates the components. You can connect with them on Facebook for more updates!

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