Stop Winter Stopping Problems

OK, so the seasons are going to change.  We can’t stop that.  However, it’s not a bad idea to do something about your brakes so you can’t count on stopping during winter.  

Before we even talk about the brakes themselves, let’s make sure the brake fluid is at the proper levels.  Your brake fluid is the stuff that is actually moving the pistons around to apply pressure and make your brakes work.  Fluids will move slowly in the winter, and if the levels are off, that can add up to a number of problems.  The brakes themselves may be fine, but if the brake fluid is leaking, low, or just not there… you will definitely have some challenges. 

Another consideration are the shoes.  No… not the brake shoes, but your shoes.  Believe it or not, many accidents occur each year because people have on wet, slippery shoes.  Their feet slide off the edge, and there just isn’t time to recover.  So… dry your shoes. 

And, of course, know what type of brakes you have.  If they are standard brakes, you’ll need to pump them slightly on slippery roads.  If you have an anti-lock brakes (ABS), the brakes will do the pumping for you.  Just apply as normal, and always keep eye contact with the road. 

Yes, your brakes are important… but the other things around the brakes are just as vital.  Stay safe!

The Rain and Your Brakes

Water on the roads isn’t good for anybody, and it really causes havoc with the ability to stop your car.  Inevitably, you’re going to drive through a puddle, and that’s likely to splash water up into your brakes.  A light tap a few times afterwards will actually help dry the brake pads to help you stop better the next time.

Got your cruise control on?  Turn it off!  Cruise control works on how fast it “thinks” the car is going. If you happen to hydroplane with cruise control on, those wheels will start spinning crazy-fast and you could have some big troubles once the tires make contact with the road again.

Lastly, if you hear some temporary squealing in your brakes after it rains that could be a couple of things.  Sometimes a little harmless rust forms on the surface rotors and makes noise until it gets knocked way, or trapped water in little grooves heats up and actually whistles like a tea pot as it steams away.  If the squealing lasts more than a minute or two, you might have something completely different going on and you may need to bring your car in for a complete check.

Beyond that, all the other safe driving rules apply:  Don’t drive through standing water, slow down during rain, and bring an umbrella.  You don’t want your hair all mussed up, do you?

When It's Time for Change, You've Got To...

You bought the car with “lifetime” brake pads and you’re hearing a grinding noise coming from your wheels. First off, there’s no such thing as “lifetime” pads, but these are very expensive and tend to last longer than most people own the car. The “lifetime” guarantee doesn’t transfer ownership. If you hear this with “lifetime” pads, change them immediately.

But, what if you don’t have that guarantee and you hear the grind? We suggest changing them immediately. That grinding is the sound of the screws in the base of the pad hitting your rotors. You hear that noise and wait too long, a repair job that may have been $200 jumps to $600 or $800. Also, these are the brakes we are talking about. Don’t take these too lightly.

How about the rotors? If you heard the grind, the rotors are in trouble. You may be able to drive another 1,000 miles, but, you are playing with fire.

All cars are different. Rule of thumb for us, your car hits the 30,000 mile-mark, you should get the pads checked. It’s something we can do and will help you make sure you are safe and everyone riding in your car stays safe as well.