The last thing you ever want to experience is to apply your brakes and have nothing happen. Would you be able to get your car, truck, or utility vehicle stopped? At J&M Auto Service, we know how important your brakes are, which is why we maintain and repair all types of brake systems. What causes brakes to fail? Here are common problems that can prevent your brakes from working.
Warped Rotors
The rotors are the disks that spin along with the wheels. The calipers and the brake pads fit around the rotors and, when you apply the brakes, the calipers push down to force the brake pads against the rotors to create stopping friction and energy. If the rotors are warped, they won’t fit well against the brake pads, which will make them less able to generate the friction needed for stopping power.
Overheated Brake Pads
Your brake pads can take a lot, but they should never overheat. When that happens, the surfaces smooth out (glaze), which makes gripping the rotors more difficult. The rotors will glaze, too, and you’ll lose braking power the hotter the brakes get. Riding the brakes or aggressive driving can overheat the brakes. Slowing down just a little bit can help to keep you from having to hit the brakes so hard.
Loss of Brake Fluid
Your brake system is a hydraulic system that uses hydraulic brake fluid to stop your automobile. The brake fluid is dispensed from the master cylinder and runs through the brake lines to push the calipers against the brake pads. If you notice that your brakes aren’t working as well as they used to, it’s possible that you have a small brake fluid leak that is causing the lower fluid levels in the brake system.
Stressing the Brake System
Overheating your brakes is a common cause of brake failure, but there are other ways that you might be placing too much stress on the brake system. Overloading your vehicle beyond its maximum weight-bearing capacity will not only stress out the brakes and cause them to fail, but it will also damage your automobile’s suspension and tires. Towing beyond the capacity also causes these problems.
Neglecting Your Brakes
Probably the surest way for your brakes to fail is to ignore them. Brakes should be inspected every 15,000 miles at a minimum to ensure the pads have plenty of depth left, the fluid is not leaking, and all other parts are still okay. Neglecting the recommended brake maintenance on your automobile is a surefire way to have them fail or, at the very least, make stopping very difficult.
Are your brakes overdue for an inspection? Contact us at J&M Auto Service in Tea, SD, and we’ll be happy to make sure your brakes are functioning properly.