Brake Repair – When to Change Your Brake Pads
Often drivers take their cars for granted, they start when we need them and get them where they need to go. It can be dangerous to overlook the obvious, things wear out including what stops you. But when do you take your car in for brake repair?
It’s an experience that everyone has had. You get to cruising along and all of a sudden you hear the squeaking sound as you go to stop. At first you probably don’t give it a second thought,
after all was that really your car that was making that awful sound or was that the car next to you? Stopping a moving car is extremely important and you don’t want to take that squealing sound lightly. There are some key warnings that will let you know when brake repair is necessary.
Your first indication that brake repair is necessary is that scraping or squealing sound. This sound is made by a soft metal tab located on the pads themselves. These tabs are usually concealed by the pads but because of the high friction the pads wear down. As they wear down the tabs begin rubbing on the rotor which is a much thicker metal disc that is connected to the driving axles. If you are hearing a grinding, scraping or squealing every time you stop or slow down it’s time to take your car to a mechanic.
Another good sign that brake repair is imminent is anytime you feel like the car is pulling when you slow. If you are trying to stop and you feel like the car has a mind of its own the pads might be suspect. If these components are so far gone that you feel like you are fighting for control then you are actually in a dangerous situation. By feeling like control is being yanked away from you might lead you to overcorrect and cause an accident.
Also the sudden pull of the wheel under your hand can cause an accident as well.
Brake repair is mainly taking care of the pads. If you let them stay worn for too long you may be looking at replacing rotors as well which can cost hundreds of dollars to do. To ensure that the rotors stay in the best shape you should have the pads inspected frequently. Because the lifespan of these parts vary you really should take extra care to ensure that they are checked regularly. The more often you use them the quicker they will wear out.
Brake repair is important. If you can’t stop your car at the appropriate time you can be putting your life, your passengers’ lives, and other people’s lives at risk. It’s important to ensure that these components are part of your regularly scheduled maintenance.
