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There are only a few sounds in the world that make my skin crawl like the sound of screeching brakes. It is right up there with the sound of nails on a chalkboard. But I think what turns my stomach the most is that I know from working in the automotive industry, the screeching means someone either has cheap brakes or completely worn brakes. What a scary thought that is, considering we all have to share the road!
Brake wear can be cause by a number of things. Overuse of your brakes can cause them to harden and eventually lose their power to grab or stop the rotation of the brake drum or rotor. Worn brake pads will make the grinding noise I loathe so much. Brakes that are soaked with oil or grease can become weak. And then there is the chance that your emergency brake is frozen due to rust in which case the brakes will not release when they are supposed to causing you to feel drag during acceleration.
Brake issues don’t just occur from wear alone. The kind of brakes you put on your mobile palace can be the cause of that ear piercing screech heard for miles around. Poor quality brakes that have more metal particles embedded in the brake pads are more likely to produce noise. That’s one of the main reasons that our Car Care Centers opt to only use ceramic brakes. Along with being less noisy, ceramic brake pad can handle higher temperatures which allows for faster recovery after the stop. They also generate less dust and wear on both the brake pads and rotors
Like most of the routine maintenance that I go on and on about, regular brake inspections are crucial to the life span of your mobile palace. Brakes should be checked at least once a year. You can do a visual inspection by checking the brake pads from outside the front tire or through the openings of the wheel or rim. You want to make sure that the pad depth is no less 1/16th of an inch. If it is, I would make a Car Care Center my next stop because you are treading into dangerous territory with bad brakes!
It is important for me to make note that a visual inspection cannot alert you to all possible problems with your brakes. Things like brake imbalance should only be tested by professional technicians to ensure that problems are correctly diagnosed. And here’s my official plug: AAA Car Care Centers do brake inspections for free! We also have the only Shaker machine in North and South Carolina. This machine tests the ability of the car to stop, the balance and efficiency of braking system, the condition of each shock and the grip of the tire. And it too is free to members! So you literally have no excuse to be riding around wondering if you have bad brakes.
Driving around with bad brakes is kind of like wearing a dress with a broken zipper; it’s just a disaster waiting to happen, and everyone around you is going to be affected. Taking up the principles of regularly scheduled maintenance will not only extend the life of your mobile palace but it will keep you safe on the road.If you have any tip and tricks, or there is something you want to know about, email me at girlsgarage@mailaaa.com |
