Brake Repair When It’s Hot and Humid Outside

Brake repair is never a convenient situation in which to find your self. Usually, brakes get worn down at the least appropriate times. Just when you are getting your credit card paid down and your finances back on track, the brakes throw you a curve. Of course, no one wants to deal with an out of commission vehicle in the dead of winter, but nothing is worse than being stranded on a sweaty summer day. 

First of all, experts say go for the preventive measures when it comes to your car or truck’s maintenance. If you keep up with the general maintenance on your car, you will find that it will perform better and won’t leave you in a lurch. The same goes for the brakes. If you can, get into the habit of checking them twice a year. The best time to do this: spring and fall. Looking over pads, rotors and other parts in the off-season can keep you out of the freezing temperatures or blistering days in winter and summer.

Another sound piece of advice is not to leave things until the last minute. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it can be even more costly for you in terms of money spent in the repairs shop. If you are noticing that the brakes are starting squeak, grind, rumble, scratch or make some other unfamiliar noise, it is time to have them checked. By the time they start making noise, the pads may already be on the outs. 

The experts say that at the very least contact your mechanic. You may not end up having any work done on your car, but you can have them check it over. They may tell you that the noises you are hearing are nothing to worry about. Sometimes moisture can build up and gather in the pads causing a squeak. Once the moisture wears off the squeak will too. By taking the vehicle into a trusted mechanic you can give yourself the assurance that everything is working normally.

Now, back to the question of whether the heat will determine the amount of brake repair you will be doing on your car. The answer is no. The summertime heat doesn’t directly affect your brakes, pads or rotors. However, because of the nature of the time of year, you may find yourself driving your car more. Long family vacations or trips to the beach can add wear to your car. Stop and go traffic during the summer months will also shorten the life of the pads and rotors. 

The summertime heat will change your desire and availability to take your car into the shop. No one wants to hike it to the bus stop on an afternoon of triple digit weather. Keeping this in mind, consider having a preemptive check done on your vehicle. You don’t want to deal with brake repair when you should be driving to the beach for a long weekend.