HOURS MAP

The Benefits of Brake Repair

Car BrakesThey say that in Minnesota, we really only experience two driving seasons – Winter and Construction. You may prefer one to the other, but something you need during both seasons is a great pair of brakes. Whether the roads are icy or you happen across a pothole repair crew, you’ll want to make sure you can stop in time to keep you and everyone else on the road safe.

Bad Brakes

There are a lot of ways to tell if you need new brakes or if there is a larger problem at hand. Does your car:

  • Make a grinding noise while stopping?
  • Seem to “pulse” or feel “herky jerky” while braking?
  • Need a lot of foot pressure to come to a complete stop?
  • Make noises while braking at high speeds, or right at the end of your complete stop.

If any of the above conditions are present, make sure you get your car into a shop right away. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse.

Pads and Rotors

As we explained in depth on a previous post, there are two main components at work while you’re braking – Break pads and Rotors.

When you apply the break, your break pads clamp down on the spinning rotor. The kinetic energy from the rotors is converted into thermal energy as the pads slow the rotor. Your forward momentum gets turned into heat as you brake, and if you brake too hard too often, you can damage your pads and rotors.

Like any car part, replacing it before it causes a bigger problem is key when it comes to brake pads and rotors. Take your car in as soon as you hear a grinding noise or feel a difference while breaking, or better yet, replace them at regular intervals. Generally, break pads should be replaced every 15,000-25,000 miles, while rotors should be swapped out every 50,000-75,000 miles.

So if you’re planning a summer road trip or just want to do more driving now that the weather is nice, make sure your brakes are in tip-top shape. Our mechanics know what to look for and can have your brakes back in perfect order in no time. For more information or to schedule a brake inspection, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Best Brakes Twin Cities Brakes Brakes Making Noise Break Pad Repair Car Rotor Repair Causes Of Brake Noise
  • U.S. Moving Forward to Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications
    Aug 27, 2014

    Not too long ago, we wrote a blog post supposing that car-to-car communications could be coming to an intersection near you in the not so distant future, and it appears the U.S. is moving forward with the idea. According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. is preparing a report […]

  • The 10 Most Ticketed Cars in America
    Oct 30, 2014

    Some people gripe about spending money on car repairs, but at least you know your money is going towards improving your vehicle’s performance. Speeding tickets, on the other hand, are car-related expenses that are no fun at all. If you’re like the vast majority of drivers, you’ve been pulled over a time or two. Maybe […]

  • Top 4 Car Repairs you Shouldn’t Skip
    May 1, 2013

    It’s a fact of life that cars break down over time. But if you take good care of your vehicle and keep up with routine repairs and maintenance, you can extend the life of your vehicle. Most people don’t even think about vehicle maintenance until something goes wrong. Following repair procedures can also help avoid […]