Is It Time to Check Your Brakes?

When it comes to cars, brakes don’t get nearly as much attention as engines do. But while brakes might not be as exciting as torque or RPMs, they’re what keep you from ending up in the backseat of the car in front of you. So the importance of maintaining them cannot be overstated. Knowing when (and how often) you should check them could mean the difference between an uneventful trip and a trip to the chiropractor.

A Primer on Brakes.

Most brakes found in cars today are disc brakes. When you depress your brake pedal, a set of calipers, equipped with pads, squeezes a rotor (the disc). The pads create friction with the rotor to slow your vehicle. It’s a hydraulic system that relies on a steady flow of brake fluid.

If any one of those components of your brakes is out of whack, the entire system can fail. The usual culprits of poor braking performance, however, are your brake pads (they should be at least ¼” thick). The pads wear down over time and, if not changed, can lead to more expensive problems, like a damaged rotor.

Location Matters.

The Atlanta, Alpharetta and Gwinnett areas are known for traffic. And all of that traffic requires a lot of stopping, starting, slowing and veering. That means your brakes have their work cut out for them. And it means your brakes will likely need servicing sooner than a vehicle used mainly in, say, a flat rural area.

With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to go ahead and have the brakes checked whenever you have your tires rotated -- typically every six months. If you’re an especially aggressive driver, you might want to have them checked more frequently than that, such as with every oil change. It’s also imperative that you pay attention to what your brakes might be trying to tell you between your regular servicing intervals.

Warning Signs.

If your brake light comes on, then it’s obviously time to have your brakes looked at. Additionally, if you notice it’s taking a good bit longer to come to a complete a stop, you should have your brakes looked at as soon as possible. You may also notice a vibrating sensation when applying your brakes. That generally indicates a brake pad issue, though it could also point to an alignment problem.

Many brakes are equipped with a built-in alert that’s designed to squeal or screech when the pads are wearing thin. While the sounds may be annoying, it can save you a lot of money down the road. That’s because if you change your pads when you’re supposed to, you won’t ever hear that metal-on-metal sound. That’s a good thing, because it means your pads have worn down completely and your calipers are now grinding against your rotor(s) whenever you press your brake pedal. It can turn an inexpensive fix into a costly one.

Be Smart. Be Vigilant. Be Safe.

At Curry Honda, we're committed to providing our customers with more than a great selection of Honda vehicles -- we’re committed to providing them with impeccable service, as well. That commitment goes beyond our showroom to include our service bays. Ultimately, we want to make sure that you and your loved ones always arrive safe and sound. That means your brakes need to be in tip-top shape. And you can count on your friends at Curry Honda to take care of that for you.