Through preventative maintenance, you can keep your car safe and reliable. However, even with the best care, some car parts just wear out. If you are dealing with bad brake rotors on your vehicle, we can help. This is a severe safety issue that needs to be handled as soon as possible.

What Bad Brake Rotors Matter

Many people think that their brake pads are an important part to keep brakes operational. However, brake rotors are just as important. When you press your brake pedal with your foot, it forces brake fluid to the calipers. These calipers cause the brake pads and brake rotors to press against one another. As these two car parts meet, they create friction to slow down the car. Pressing the brake pedal is kind of like putting down your foot to slow a scooter. This a great article with more information about how brakes work.

Now, think about when you put down your foot on that scooter. Your shoe rubs against the ground. If you do it too much, the rubber of your show will wear off, right? With your car, the same thing happens. Both the brake pads and brake rotors wear over time as they create the friction that stops your car. The pads and rotors need the correct thickness in order to stop your car properly. If this thickness is compromised, your car isn’t safe to drive.

Brake pads typically wear more quickly and need replacement more often. However, a good brake mechanic should also check the state of your rotors. Occasionally, rotors also need replacement. New brake pads won’t help your car much if your rotors are in bad condition.

You can do a few things to prevent your brakes from getting warped or worn quickly. Namely, go easy on your brakes as you drive! Whenever possible, avoid heavy brake use (i.e. slamming on your brakes or “riding” your brake pedal for a prolonged time). Also, when you are going down a steep hill, for example, shift into a lower gear if you can.

Kernersville Auto Center Can Help with Worn Rotors

Our team of mechanics has brake training. So, they know exactly how to check for common brake problems such as bad brake rotors and worn pads. If your brake rotors need replacement, we can do the job for you. At the same time, we can also perform other car maintenance such as transmission service and oil changes. Read more about all our services here.

If you aren’t sure about the state of your brakes, we can help. In fact, we offer free brake inspections. With this inspection, a licensed mechanic will review your pads, shoes, rotors, fluids, and more. If you need brake repair, an ASE-certified technician will repair your car to makes sure it is in perfect condition. Never leave things to chance! Click here to learn more about your free brake inspections.

Signs Your Brake Rotors are Worn

When in doubt, simply come into our auto shop for an inspection. However, here are a few common signs that your brake rotors are nearing the end of their life:

• Squealing sounds – this occurs sometimes when the rotors are warped slightly, but can also be a sign of bad pads.
• Scraping sounds – if the rotors are severely warped or worn, you may hear scraping.
• Minor or major vibration when applying the brakes – you may feel a pulsating feeling in the pedal or steering wheel. Keep in mind that vibration can indicate other problems as well.
• Grooves on the rotor – this one is hard to tell unless you know what you are looking for, but our mechanics look for it. We’ll check for proper thickness with the rotors.
• Slow stopping – if your car needs a lot of distance to come to a stop, you need new rotors immediately! This is a highly dangerous situation.

We can check out any weird sound, vibration when you brake, or other issues. When in doubt, bring your car to our shop. Are you ready to make an appointment with our team? Give us a call at 336-993-7697 to speak to a member of our team. Or, click here to contact us.