Many of us are guilty of putting off car service until the problem is bad enough that waiting is no longer an option. Your brakes should not face the same treatment. Maintaining a schedule for brake service in Basalt, CO not only means safety for you and other motorists, but also improved cost savings. Here is an explanation of why brake issues should not be ignored.
Safety and cost
The worst-case scenario is pretty apparent: no brake function. Even if you are on an empty road, the danger remains. Driving down a hill and having brakes fail often means having to drive into a ditch or making a dangerous maneuver with your emergency brake. If you are in heavy traffic when it all comes to a halt, you risk liability, injuries and vehicle damage by colliding with the vehicle in front of you.
Avoiding danger is good motivation for keeping brakes in good repair. For most people, that is normally enough. But when funds are tight and everything is going well so far, the tendency to tempt fate remains. If budget is your primary motivation, rest assured that you are not doing yourself any favors waiting for a disaster before you switch out your brakes.
Brakes are made of pads and rotors. The pads wear out first and replacing them is much less expensive. If you let the pads wear out, your rotors start grinding down. Once this occurs, you have to replace them, too, which is a major repair. At that point, you are in danger of your car failing to stop which puts in the situation of having no other choice than to replace them at considerable expense.
Be aware of the signs
You can avoid this scenario by recognizing the early symptoms of imminent brake repair. As the pads wear out and produce more metal-to-metal contact, the brakes start making squealing sounds. Brake pad manufacturers add what is called a brake pad indicator, which is designed to make noise when there is only ¼ inch of the pad remaining. When you start hearing this sound, you have one month to replace the pads or face further wear and tear.
If there is not an indicator on your particular type of brake pads, you will need to be aware of other signs. One such sign is the need to put more pressure on your brake pedal to get your car to stop. The pedal may also have to be pressed all the way to the floor. Anytime your brakes behave differently, make an appointment with your auto shop to have them checked.
Rotors eventually require replacement, too, but not after you have gone through three sets of brake pads. Unless you drive in heavy traffic frequently or travel a lot, installing new rotors will likely only have to occur once in the time you own your car.
Living dangerously is not an admirable trait when you are sharing the road. Contact Basalt Quick Lube, Tire & Alignment today to arrange for brake service in Basalt, CO.