If you’ve ever been surprised by your mechanic with news about something being wrong with your car, you are most certainly not alone. One of the most common things we hear of people getting blindsided by is worn brakes. Most of the time, the change is so gradual that it doesn’t feel like any change has happened. It’s not until you drive another car or get your brakes replaced that you realize that anything was off. In order to hopefully encourage people to check their brakes more often, we’ve put together a list of a few of the things that can happen when you drive with worn brakes.
Damage Rotors
It is possible to damage your braking rotors when your brake pads are worn to the point where they no longer work. To bring your automobile to a complete stop, the brake pads must squeeze against the rotor. The rotors can be damaged if the brake pads are worn down so much that the metal on them scrapes against the rotors as you brake, causing a grinding noise. When worn pads compress the rotor, heat created by metal-on-metal grinding can distort and break the rotor. Brake rotors often last longer than brake pads. Not replacing your brake pads, on the other hand, might cause harm to these components, necessitating more regular maintenance.
Slow Response Time
Wear and tear on brakes makes it more difficult to slow down and stop your car. If you suspect that your brakes are worn, it’s critical that you monitor the speed at which they respond. The brake pedal may seem difficult to press if your brakes are glazed from use or if you have worn them out. Driving with glazed brakes can also result in higher stopping distances, brake slippage, and your car shifting to one side whenever you hit the brakes. Brake drift or slippage occurs when the brake pads don’t touch or release the rotor as intended, and the pads can’t grasp both sides equally. If your brakes are worn and you’re driving on the freeway, it can be one of the most dangerous circumstances that can happen when you drive with worn brakes.
Wearing Down Tires
Whether you believe it or not, driving with worn-out brakes may actually wear down your tires as well! Brake pads, rotors, and calipers can wear out with time, causing you to use the brake pedal more frequently to slow or stop the automobile. When you use your brakes hard enough, they might become imbalanced and cause uneven tire wear. Brake maintenance translates to tire maintenance and vice versa.
Hopefully, now you know that regular brake maintenance is important. Just make sure you know the warning signs brakes give you when it’s time to replace them!