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Brakes are probably the most important safety feature in your car. They enable you to have complete control of when and where you stop. Wear and tear can affect any part of the braking system, and this will cause potential safety issues. If you have a brake problem, your MINI dealer can repair it for you. These are some signs you need to come in for a brake repair. Signs You Need a Brake Repair at Your MINI Dealer Glazed Brake Pads The brake pads generate the friction that brings your wheels to a halt. These pads have a special covering that enables them to generate the necessary friction against the rotors to stop them. This system requires the pad's friction material covering to be in good condition. A glazed pad may have an almost intact material covering, but it's been damaged and can't generate friction. more A pad becomes glazed when it's in contact with a rotor for too long over an extended period. This can occur due to a damaged caliper keeping the pad too close to the rotor when you take your foot off the brakes. It can also happen if you frequently have to ride your brakes. The constant friction and heat turn the surface of the pad smooth and prevent the wheel from braking. We'll examine the pads and remove any glazed ones. Air Bubble The braking system depends on high pressure to work effectively. To maintain high pressure, the system is completely sealed. Unfortunately, over time air can get into even the braking system. Once inside, the air will form a bubble and block the movement of fluid through the section of the hose or brake line where the bubble is. A bubble in the front right brake hose, for example, will prevent brake fluid from exerting pressure on the caliper. If this happens, the front right caliper won't engage and your car will turn to the right when you hit the brakes. Air bubbles are dangerous as they interfere with the braking system. Our technicians can remove a bubble by bleeding the braking system to remove any air. Resistance When You Accelerate If you're experiencing resistance when you hit the gas, you could have a brake problem. If this is the case, you'll feel like one of your wheels just doesn't want to move. This problem is usually caused by a jammed or damaged caliper. The calipers are forced against the rotors to stop them from moving. Once you take your foot off the brake, the calipers should withdraw. A damaged caliper may remain in contact with the rotor, which puts a drag on the affected wheel. We'll examine your wheels and repair or replace a damaged caliper if it's causing the problem. If your brakes don't feel like they're working correctly, visit our service department ASAP at Open Road MINI of Morristown.

The alternator is a mini generator, and like any generator, it requires service and maintenance to keep it working at its best. Eventually, the alternator will start to wear out. When this happens, it's time to visit your MINI dealer in Morristown, NJ, for an alternator repair. These are a few signs your alternator could be failing. Signs Your MINI Needs an Alternator Repair at Your MINI Dealer Starting and Stalling Problems One of the alternator's functions is to keep your battery fully charged. The battery depends on the alternator to replace the power used to start your engine. If your alternator is failing, it won't produce enough power to completely charge the battery. If you find your engine is taking longer to start, a worn alternator may be the cause of the problem. more Stalling problems are caused by a failure of more than one cylinder to ignite correctly. The spark plug attached to a cylinder is designed to ignite the fuel-air mix at the optimum time. Spark plugs depend on electricity from the alternator to generate the required spark. If your alternator is very weak, it may not provide a strong and consistent charge to allow the plugs to spark. Damaged Alternator Bearings Your alternator creates electricity by spinning. Its fast spinning motion causes the magnets in its center to generate magnetic energy. This energy is then converted to AC, and finally DC for your car's systems. The alternator depends on bearings to enable it to spin. These bearings are lubricated with grease to allow them to move easily and silently. We routinely check your alternator and its components as part of your service schedule. If the bearings aren't checked, the grease will dry up and wear off. The heat produced by the fast movement of the alternator can cause cracks to develop in one or more of the bearings. If this happens, you may hear squealing noises or even clunking noises if one of the bearings breaks. We'll examine the bearings and replace any damaged ones. Dim Lights One of the most common signs of a failing alternator is dim lights. A weakening alternator will eventually produce less power than your car's systems require. When this happens, many of the electrical systems will receive only sufficient power to turn on. You might see your cabin lights, dash lights, and even headlights all start to dim. Call our service department, and our MINI-trained technicians will test your alternator. We can swiftly determine if it's failing. If you need a new alternator, we can install one for you. Once an alternator starts to wear out, it will eventually fail. Call us at MINI of Morristown, and we'll fix the problem for you.

The braking system is designed to slow down and stop your car whenever you need to. Over time, parts will wear out or need replacement, and you'll need a brake repair. Fortunately, your MINI dealer in Morristown, NJ, can fix any problem for you. These are some of the reasons you may need a repair. Do You Need a Brake Repair at Your MINI Dealer? Glazed Brake Pads The brake pads fit into the brake calipers. These pads generate friction against the wheel rotors, which slows down and stops your car. Glazing occurs when your brake pads are kept in contact with the rotors for an extended period, for example, when driving downhill. more The smooth rotor surface and the rough pad surface can damage each other if they're in contact while you're driving. The pads will develop a smooth, glass-like surface. Glazed pads no longer generate friction, and the lack of friction places more strain on your braking system. Extra pressure is required to bring your car to a stop. We can quickly replace glazed pads and your braking system will improve. Pulling to One Side If your car pulls to one side when you brake, part of your braking system is damaged. The pulling means that the brake on one side of your car isn't working. This places additional strain on the braking system, and your car turns towards the side with a working brake. Two causes for this problem are damaged brake calipers and a blockage in the brake hoses. A blocked brake hose will prevent the pressurized brake fluid from activating the caliper on the affected side of your car. A damaged caliper may not close on the rotor, which prevents the affected rotor from stopping. Your car will stop as the other calipers engage, but it will turn to one side as it does so. Our experts will examine your braking system and repair the cause of the problem. Hard Pedal A hard pedal is extremely difficult to move. You should experience resistance when you step on the pedal, but a hard pedal will barely move. The reason for this problem is a damaged brake booster. The brake booster enhances the pressure you put on the pedal, and this overcomes the resistance from the pressurized brake fluid. A booster is powered by a vacuum system that generates 10x normal human strength. This extreme pressure is necessary, as your braking system has to stop your car that weighs over 3,000 lbs. If the vacuum system is damaged, it can't generate the necessary force. We can repair or replace your booster for you. If you see signs of these problems or have any other issues with your brakes, call us at MINI of Morristown.