Rotors are an important part of a vehicle’s brake system. If you’re experiencing bad rotor symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment for repair as soon as possible. Here at Kernersville Auto Center, we can diagnose any brake problem and perform the repairs to get you back on the road as fast as possible.
What are Brake Rotors?
Brake rotors are disks made from metal. They are connected to your wheels. When you apply your brakes, the calipers squeeze the brake pads, which rub against the rotors. This friction is what causes your car to stop.
In most cases, brake rotors are made from iron and are extremely durable. However, if they aren’t installed precisely, you could experience issues with your braking, including vibrations, your car pulling to one side, and uneven brake pad wear.
Bad Rotor Symptoms
Do you need brake repair? Here are a few bad rotor symptoms that indicate you should bring your vehicle to our shop for diagnosis as soon as you can.
- Squealing, squeaking, scraping, and other weird noises when you press your brakes
- Shaking or vibrations, which you can sometimes feel in the brake pedal and sometimes feel in the steering column
- Grooves on the rotor or indications of uneven wear and warping
- “Hot” smells or smoke coming from your vehicle, especially after braking
- Your vehicle taking a longer distance to stop, even on good road conditions
Many of the above symptoms could be indications of other problems with your brake system as well. However, our mechanics will check your brake rotors as part of the diagnosis, since they are a common cause of brake problems.
Repairing Bad Rotors
If your rotors are causing an issue, you can repair or replace them. Repair is possible if they aren’t too worn, warped, or grooved. In this case, we’ll smooth the surface of the disc and then reinstall them correctly. This is a sensitive process that needs to be done perfectly to avoid future issues. In most cases, bad rotors are the result of poor installation.
Sometimes, bad rotors cannot be machined and reinstalled. Instead, we’ll need to replace your rotors. Either way, we’ll speak with you once we diagnose the problem. If you need brake rotor replacement or repair, we’ll give you a price quote and answer any questions you have before proceeding. Our technicians are ASE certified and great at explaining repairs, even if you don’t consider yourself a “car person.”
Other Brake Problems
If your rotors look fine, you might be experience problems with other parts of your brake system. When you have a brake issue, we look at the entire system to figure out what is going on.
One of the most common issues is worn brake pads. Brake pads connect with the brake rotors to create friction. This friction causes your car to stop, but it also causes your brake pads to wear down over time. So, you’ll need to occasionally replace them. You could also experience problems with your calipers, break lines, and master brake cylinder. This can manifest as some of the above-listed symptoms, as well as other issues like leaking brake fluid or a brake light on your dashboard.
Brake Maintenance
The easiest way to prevent major issues with your brakes is with regular brake maintenance. In general, vehicle maintenance can prevent a ton of other problems down the line. The better you care for your vehicle today, the less money you’ll spend on repairs in the future.
Brake maintenance is simple and boils down to doing three things:
- Check your brake fluid to ensure it is at the proper level. We can do this for you whenever you bring your car in for any maintenance or repairs. You’ll need to change your brake fluid occasionally. For most vehicles, you should have your brake fluid flushed and changed around 25,000 miles.
- Have your brakes checked regularly to ensure the brake pads aren’t too worn and the rotors are in good condition. You should do this before you notice any weird sounds, vibrations, or smells.
- As soon as you notice a problem, bring your car to our shop. Do not put this off. Brake problems can make your car very unsafe.
If you’re unsure about your brake maintenance schedule, we can help. We’ll look at your vehicle’s make and model to figure out what your manufacturer recommends.
Other Vehicle Maintenance
Along with your brake maintenance, you should schedule other preventative maintenance for your vehicle to reduce the risk of major issues in the future. The most important maintenance is the oil change. You’ll need an oil change a few times a year depending on your make and model, the type of oil you choose, and your driving habits.
We also recommend sticking to your vehicle’s manufacturer recommendations for other types of maintenance such as checking and changing fluids, replacing your windshield wipers, tuning your engine, replacing your air filter, rotating your tires, and checking belts and hoses.
Keep in mind that regular car washes are important too. Car washes remove grime, insects, and other dirt, which can cause paint discoloration and chips along with rust. You can learn more about our car wash here.
FAQs About Vehicle Maintenance
Our certified technicians can answer your questions about vehicle maintenance. Here are a few FAQs to get you started:
How often does my vehicle need maintenance?
This depends on your specific vehicle. We’ll take a look at your manufacturer’s recommendations and get you on the perfect maintenance schedule.
Does a vehicle inspection take care of my maintenance?
You do need an annual vehicle inspection here in North Carolina, and we are an official inspection location. However, this safety inspection doesn’t cover most of the normal maintenance your car needs.
How do I set up a vehicle maintenance or vehicle repair appointment?
We make it easy to set up an appointment. That way, you don’t spend all day sitting at our shop and waiting for your car. You can book your appointment online easily by clicking here.
We look forward to serving you!
