New brakes are responsive. New brakes are effective. New brakes can bring you to a decisive halt when you need to perform an emergency stop. However, worn brakes are not as responsive and can seriously compromise your ability to stop in an emergency.
The trouble is that brakes don’t go bad overnight. Brakes lose their efficacy with months and years of continuous wear. Rarely do we notice that our brakes are less responsive than they used to be. We simply get used to the gradual change in their performance and don’t notice the difference until we schedule for a routine brakes service.
But damaged or worn brakes are more than just a safety hazard…
Bad brakes can damage your car!
When we fail to give our brakes the TLC that they deserve they can go on to have a knock-on effect on the rest of the car. Leave your brake pads to wear down and this can result in damage to your vehicle in a number of places;
- Rotors- This is one of the first areas where you’ll start to see damage when running with worn brakes. When brake pads wear down, the pressure that they are supposed to absorb is instead absorbed by the rotors. As they accumulate more pressure, friction and heat they can become warped and cracked leading to an expensive repair job.
- Suspension- Your vehicle’s brakes and suspension is a vital component of its overall well being. Misaligned suspension can lead to disproportionate wear on one side and even lead to some components of your suspension becoming damaged. When your brakes become worn, this can throw off your suspension and cause it to become misaligned. Realigning it can be a time consuming and costly process.
- Calipers- The calipers help to clamp the brake discs and pads together facilitating the function of your brakes. When your brakes wear down the calipers and the rotors can grind against each other. Over time this can cause serious damage to your calipers resulting in yet another expensive repair.
- Tires- Nobody wants to have to keep changing their tires all the time. But when your brakes are worn, your tires take far more of a hit every time you stop. This can lead to patches of wear which in turn can throw off your vehicle’s alignment leading to a range of complications and issues.
The repairs that become necessary when you let your brakes fall into disrepair can be extremely expensive for any vehicle but if you drive a prestige brand like a BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac or Land Rover the high prices of parts for these makes can lead to some even more costly repairs unless you get brakes near me.
How often should you replace your brake pads?
As you can see a brake pad replacement should be an integral part of your regular vehicle servicing schedule. Your brakes should be inspected as part of your every oil change service. This means that according to most manufacturer’s recommendations you should have an brake inspection every 12 months or 10,000 miles whichever comes first. If you’re on a long life servicing schedule this becomes 24 months or 20,000 miles whichever comes first.
It’s hard to come up with a strict rule of thumb when it comes to when your brake pads should be replaced as just one sharp brake can cause more wear on the pad. In some cases pads can last for 75 thousand miles, while in other cases they can last little more than 25,000. As long as you keep your vehicle regularly serviced you can be assured that you have an experienced technician checking on the wear and overall health of your braking apparatus.
It’s worth remembering that the hydraulic fluid that powers your brakes can pick up micro-droplets of water when exposed to the changing temperatures of your vehicles underside and this can affect its efficacy. For this reason most manufacturers recommend replacing your brake fluid every 2 years or 20,000 miles.
We know your brakes and we know your car!
Your brakes are one of the most important aspects of what makes your vehicle safe. For this reason alone, it’s essential to leave your brakes in the hands of an auto repair specialist you can trust. The good news is that with over 25 years of experience in bringing affordable brake servicing to our customers we can honestly say that we know your brakes and your car better than just about anyone.
We have decades of experience with a host of manufacturers from all over the world like BMW, Chrysler, Mercedes Benz, Cadillac, Volkswagen, Audi, Land Rover, Chevy, Subaru, Dodge, Jeep, Honda and Acura. We’re also ASE certified for your peace of mind.
We work tirelessly to bring you a service you can trust. But hey, don’t take our word for it. Check out some of the testimonials from our satisfied customers.