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Understanding The Brakes On A Car

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If you are new to car ownership and driving, you want to learn all about car maintenance and the important safety features of which you need to be aware. Your brakes are crucial to your safety when you drive, as well as the safety of everyone else you will be sharing the road with; this is why you want to make sure you have a clear understanding of your car's brakes. This article will educate you on brakes and give you information that can prove to be a real life-saver.

How brakes work

You know the basics of how the brakes on the car work: you press down on the brake pedal and the brakes make the car stop. However, what is really happening is when you press down on the brake pedal it tells the brake apparatus to squeeze down, which causes it to squeeze down on the rotor, and this causes the car to slow down or come to a stop. The brake pads will wear out over time, and when you get to the end you will eventually end up having metal rub on metal if you don't have the brakes changed soon enough. This is a horrible thing to allow to happen, as it can cause the car to not stop when you need it to, and eventually it will cause the rotors to become warped and broken, which can lead to an accident.

Brake maintenance

There really is very little you have to do in order to care for your car's brakes, but there are still some things you should know to avoid running the risk of having things go very badly with your brakes on your car. You will need to check the brake fluid when you are checking the other fluids and make sure you have it filled above the low line and below the full line. You also want to make sure you take the car in as soon as you notice the signs that your brakes may be in need of replacement.

Signs that the brakes need to be checked

You want to be able to recognize the signs that the brakes are in need of replacement so you know you aren't driving your car around with brakes that are worrisome. Some of the things you may notice when your brakes are wearing down include:

  • Your brakes may make a squeaking sound due to built-in sensors designed to warn you when the brakes get low.
  • Your car may pull to one side if one of the brake pads is wearing out faster than the brake pad on the other side.
  • You may see an excessive amount of brake dust on one or more of your hubcaps telling you the brake pad is wearing at an exceptional rate and this tells you the brakes need to be checked.
  • You hear a grinding sound as you press down on the brake pedal -- the sound you hear is metal on metal and this puts you at serious risk of not stopping and damaging the rotors.

Signs there may be issues with your rotors

You should also become familiar with the signs that you may have rotor issues; this way, you'll immediately recognize that it is time to take the car in to be looked at before rotor issues lead to other serious problems. A sign that you have a warped rotor will be a wobbly feeling coming from your car as you press down on the brake pedal.

For more information about brake safety and maintenance, contact companies like Olson's  Auto Body.


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