Ford Recalls News: Why Brake System Maintenance is so Important

Ford Recall News Overview

Ford has issued a safety recall affecting approximately 273,800 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from model years 2022 through 2024. The automaker filed the recall notice with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after identifying a potential brake system defect.

According to Ford's official report, the affected vehicles may develop brake fluid leaks that could significantly impact braking performance. "This issue may lead to excessive brake pedal travel and reduced deceleration capability," Ford stated. "In severe cases where brake fluid rapidly leaks or becomes completely depleted, stopping distances would increase substantially, elevating crash risks."

Ford logo on the car

Behind the news of Ford's recall, the importance of the brake system in the car is reflected, and it also warns people how important it is to regularly maintain the brake system. Ford will be responsible for the above-mentioned vehicle brake defects, so for the majority of car owners who are not involved, regular brake system maintenance is our responsibility.

So what is the brake system of a car? Why do we need to perform regular maintenance? How should we perform maintenance? The following will focus on these three questions and give a detailed explanation.

What is the Braking System of a Car?

The automobile braking system refers to a series of specialized devices that apply a certain force to certain parts of the car (mainly the wheels), thereby forcing them to brake to a certain extent.The automobile braking system mainly consists of four parts: energy supply device, control device, transmission device and brake.

The brake line problem mentioned as the reason for Ford's recall belongs to the transmission part of the brake system.The brake line transmits brake fluid in the brake system, transferring the force generated when the driver steps on the brake pedal to the brake device, thereby achieving the braking function.

The composition of vehicle braking system

Why should we maintain the brake system regularly?

Importance of the braking system maintenance

• Ensure driving safety:

When encountering an emergency, the driver can step on the brake pedal and use the friction between the brake pads and the brake disc to slow down and stop the car, thereby ensuring driving safety and avoiding accidents.Regular maintenance can promptly detect and resolve potential problems, such as brake fluid leakage, brake pad wear, etc., to avoid safety hazards caused by brake failure.

Braking system ensures driving safety

• Improve braking performance:

Maintenance can remove dust, oil and other impurities in the brake system,improve brake sensitivity and response speed, and ensure that the car can stop quickly in an emergency.

• Assistive system functions:

such as ABS anti-lock braking system to prevent wheels from locking during emergency braking, ensuring control stability and driving safety.TCS traction control system controls wheel traction to prevent slipping during acceleration.Regular maintenance can keep these important systems functioning properly,improving driving safety and comfort.

The car's ABS ensures control stability and driving safety.

• Extend service life:

Regular maintenance can reduce the wear of brake pads, brake discs and other parts,extend their service life and reduce maintenance costs. For example, the replacement cycle of brake pads is usually about every 30,000 kilometers, but the actual replacement frequency needs to be flexibly adjusted according to the use of the vehicle.

• Meeting regulatory requirements:

The performance of the braking system needs to meet regulatory requirements,such as braking distance, braking force distribution, etc., which is a prerequisite for legal driving on the road.Regular maintenance can allow your car to self-check before the annual inspection, and will not fail the annual inspection due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements due to long-term wear and tear.

• Reduced maintenance costs:

Regular inspections and maintenance can prevent minor problems from turning into major failures and reduce unnecessary maintenance costs. For example, the replacement cycle of brake fluid is about 60,000 kilometers, but it may need to be replaced more frequently in humid areas.

The consequences of not maintaining it for a long time

• Poor braking effect and brake failure:

Long-term lack of maintenance of the brake system will lead to severe wear of the brake pads and brake discs, leakage or deterioration of the brake fluid, resulting in poor braking effect or even complete failure, increasing driving risks.

Part of the car's braking system

• Abnormal brake noise:

If the powder produced by normal wear of the brake pad is not cleaned for a long time, it will cause abnormal brake noise. In addition, if the silencer and shock absorber of the brake pad are not cleaned and lubricated for a long time, it will also cause abnormal brake noise.

• Brake deviation:

If the dust cover of the slave cylinder sliding shaft is damaged, it will cause the slave cylinder shaft to rust, the slave cylinder to not return to its original position, the braking force to decrease, and the brake to deviate.

• Deterioration of brake fluid:

Excessive moisture in the brake fluid can cause air blockage, affecting the braking effect, and even causing brake failure. When the brake fluid acidifies and deteriorates, it will corrode the pipeline, causing rust and blockage, or even leakage, and suddenly lose the braking ability.

Brake fluid turns brown over time

• Increased wear of components:

Long-term lack of maintenance of the brake system will cause abnormal wear of the brake pads and brake discs, shortening their service life.

How to maintain the brake system

Maintenance methods for vehicle brake systems include regular inspection of brake pads and brake discs, replacement of brake fluid, keeping the brake system dry, abnormal condition inspection, running-in of new car brake systems, maintenance under special working conditions, and use of professional maintenance products.

Where should I go to have my brake system serviced? In addition to going to a nearby auto repair shop or brand-authorized service point for regular maintenance, you can also purchase an OBD2 scanner to perform self-diagnosis or maintenance.

Most of Autel's automotive diagnostic scanners provide brake system maintenance services.

For example, the MaxiCheck MX808S provides ABS brake bleeding services, which can bleed the air in the ABS module by yourself, without having to go to a 4S store or repair shop.The Autel Scanner Maxisys MS906 Pro also has an automatic reset service that can disable and enable the brake control system, assist in controlling the brake fluid, open and close the brake pads, etc.

Conclusion

Owners can confirm if their vehicle is included in the recall and learn more through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website or Ford Recall Lookup. Owners of recalled Navigators and Expeditions are asked to bring their SUVs to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection.

Other car owners not related to this incident should also regularly maintain their brake systems to ensure driving safety and reduce the occurrence of accidents.