When it comes to vehicle safety, there is no other system that is as important as the brakes. However, most of us take it for granted that our car will stop properly whenever we press on the brake pedal. You can be confident that your car will stop if you take proper care of its braking system through annual brake inspections, maintenance and repair.
Until now, the driving public has not developed an understanding for the importance of having the brakes checked on a regular basis. When brake service is put off too long, you are potentially putting your safety, as well as the safety of your passengers, in jeopardy. Not to mention the additional cost of getting your vehicle back into safe operating condition that can be incurred by delaying brake service.
At the first sign of brake problems, it is important to take your vehicle to a brake-service technician. Only a professional has the knowledge to answer specific questions about the brake system and the guarantee that premium quality products will be used.
Chances are you'll be the first to know if you have brake problems. It is important to be alert. If your car is pulling to the left or right, or if you hear odd noises when you apply the brakes, you should have your brakes inspected. Other warning signs include brake grabbing, low pedal feel, vibration, hard pedal feel and squealing.
For routine inspections, bring your car in every eight to ten thousand miles. A service professional will check your brake lining wear, brake fluid level, hoses and lines, brake pedal travel, brake and dash warning lights and take your car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems.
When the time comes to have your brakes replaced, it's a fact that not all brake products are created equal. It's important to understand that bargain brake jobs are no bargain. Inferior parts and poor quality work could impact the safety of your vehicle, as well as leave you with irritating brake noise and poor brake performance.
Premium disc pads go through extensive performance testing to insure proper brake balance and conformance to Federal guidelines required for Original Equipment. Tests show that while traveling up to 60 miles per hour, premium disc pads can result in up to 20 feet shorter stopping distances than economy products. Since premium friction formulas are designed specifically for each vehicle, tests show that premium pads can last 25% longer than economy.
The materials used in premium friction formulations are quieter and produce less vibration. Premium designs include shims, chamfers, and other features that produce smoother, quieter operation. Economy pads can be twice as noisy as premium products.
In addition, economy friction can create up to three times the rotor wear as premium pads. This means that you run the risk of replacing expensive rotors much more often when using economy friction.
Rotors are integral to brake system performance and safety, and impact everything from noise and stopping distance to the life of the friction. Quality rotors dramatically reduce noise, give disc pads longer life and, while traveling at 60 miles per hour, can stop the vehicle over 20 feet sooner.
