The brakes on your vehicle work hard every time you drive. When you slow down in traffic, stop at a red light, or must maneuver a quick hard stop because of an obstruction in the road your brakes are at work. Over time the use of your brakes causes normal wear and tear, which can render them less ineffective (or even dangerous). It’s important to have regular maintenance performed on your braking system to keep it in top shape, and provide safe driving conditions for you and your family.

Overview – Your Braking System

The braking system in your vehicle includes, for each wheel, a disc, also called a rotor, a caliper, and the brake pads. From inside the car, it seems like all that happens is a push on the brake pedal, and the vehicle stops. But inside the car, this depressed pedal sends brake fluid through the brake lines as a piston moves in the master cylinder. Resulting in pistons in the caliper being activated, the brake pads engage against the rotor, causing friction to slow the wheel.  Essentially, this pressure caused by your brake pad on the rotor will slow the movement of your vehicle, and eventually cause it to stop.

You can see that your brakes are applied by much more than a simple pedal on the floor of your vehicle. Many factors and components make your car stop safely and timely on the road.

Price Points to Ponder

Unfortunately, the friction of your brakes causes your brake pads to wear down over time, and they will need to be replaced time and time again. This is a normal part of the preventative maintenance you should include with your braking system.

In addition, the disk (or rotor) can have wear or damage.  Of course, this means spending some money to keep your vehicle in working order and get you home safely every day.

Why Choose a Mechanic?

Many people with mechanical experience do their own brake jobs — which is fine if they have the experience, specifications, measuring tools, and are willing to take on the responsibility for having safe brakes. Typically, anything more than replacing brake pads should not be attempted without proper tools and experience. A qualified mechanic or technician, working in a well equipped automotive repair shop, will know to check all of the braking components.  It’s just not worth taking any chances with your braking system.