How are your brakes lookin’? Do you know what to look for? Brakes are one of the most important components to any fast-moving object: without them we’d be colliding anytime we approached another stopped vehicle, like bumper cars. To keep your precious cargo and vehicle safe, it’s always a good idea to maintain those brakes because brake failure is possible. If you’re feeling or hearing anything questionable when braking, it’s time to get an inspection at your local auto repair Chandler, AZ shop. 

Brakes consist of a few main components: rotors, brake pads, calipers and the brake line. First, we’ll start at the base of the parts of the braking mechanism and move outward. The rotors are also called brake discs and they are the big round metal pieces sometimes with holes and cuts throughout the piece, oftentimes, the rotors are smooth. Those holes and cuts allow for the brake pad to catch onto the rotor, throwing dust away, prevents overheating. Brake pads are pushed along the rotor, creating friction, to make that stop happen. Brake pads will wear down over time, they’re meant to, and they will need to be changed. The calipers push the brake pads into the rotors, the brake pedal moves the caliper: the harder you press on the brake pedal, the closer the caliper will push the brake pad to the rotor. The brake line feeds brake fluid to the caliper from the master cylinder, building pressure on the caliper’s pistons to push the brake pad into the rotors. These are only the basics of the inner workings of the braking system, which will help you better understand what to look for when brake parts need to be changed. 

There are a few main things to look out for when the major components of the brake system need to be serviced at an auto mechanic shop Chandler, AZ. The most common issues when stopping are squealing and grinding noises, vibration in steering wheel or brake pedal, and discoloration or corrosion on the rotor. Brake pads are designed to squeal when they start to get to the end of their lifespans as an auditorial warning that they need to be serviced. Once the brakes start to grind, you’ve driven the car too far past the recommended time to change the brake pads. When you start to feel vibrations when coming to a stop, whether it be in the steering wheel or brake pedal, it’s likely a warped rotor. A warped rotor can wear the brake pads down much quicker than they normally should, which makes the replacements more costly. A warped rotor can be resurfaced, or turned, if there is enough life on it. Going past the recommended rotor width can cause them to warp again with the heat caused by braking. The discoloration and corrosion are caused by excessive heat and moisture, respectively. Chandler auto repair shops suggest to never ignore these issues as they can cause more costly damages later down the road. 

Whether you’re driving in stop and go traffic, using your brakes often, or driving on the freeways, depends on how often they will need to be serviced by Chandler auto repair. The more heat and pressure applied, the more the components will wear down. To increase the longevity of your brakes, it’s best to slowly come to a stop rather than slamming on the brakes to quickly halt the vehicle. Best practice for this is to keep a good distance, 2-3 car lengths, between your car with the one in front of you. The more distance, the more you can see further down the road, as well. The further you are from the car in front of you, the more visibility you have of the roadway, which can only be safer for you as the person in front of you may not be paying attention, it’s better not to rely on them. 

 If you do experience brake failure, do not panic and put your hazard lights on. Think of the safest way to slow down, taking in everything around you. If you have a manual emergency brake, that’s a great solution, but don’t pull up too fast on it, or you may lose control of the car. Let the vehicle slowly come to a stop on its own, if you can. Otherwise, look for things that will allow for soft stops like grass or vegetation off the side of the road. Another solution would be to steer your car alongside a wall to also make that stop. Of course, there will be damage done to the vehicle, but it’s better than taking a head-on collision with anything as that can do more harm to you and your passengers. 

The next time you experience any of these issues when stopping, feel free to give your local auto mechanic shop Chandler, AZ a call and request an inspection. Maintaining that upkeep on your vehicle will only be better for you in the long run. Remember to get your vehicle checked routinely and drive safely.