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What causes Brake Discs to Wear Out

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What causes Brake Discs to Wear Out

What causes Brake Discs to Wear Out

Unfortunately, I remember the days before brake discs were fitted to our cars. In fact brake shoes were the norm for most regular car models. Indeed my first encounter with disc brakes were on a Jaguar belonging to the son of a wealthy millowner. We used to service his vehicles and the jaguar was one of them. However, as an apprentice then I never got to touch the car. But I remember being shown how the disc system worked.

Hence, It was explained to me that brake discs are subjected to constant friction and heat during the braking process. However, over time, the repeated exposure to these elements can cause the discs to wear out. In addition, other factors that can contribute to brake disc wear include:

Driving Style

Accordingly, aggressive driving habits such as frequent hard braking and riding the brakes can accelerate the wear of the brake discs. (Boy racers come to mind)

Driving Conditions

Driving in stop-and-go traffic, mountainous terrain, or on rough roads can cause excessive wear on the brake discs.

Poor Quality Brake Pads

So this along with corrosion is the most common cause for disc wear. Low-quality brake pads can cause uneven wear on the brake discs, leading to premature failure.

Corrosion

Exposure to moisture, salt, and other environmental elements can cause corrosion on the brake discs, leading to accelerated wear. Especially the rear discs, that dont get as much use as the front discs.

How Can You Tell if Your Brake Discs are Worn Out?

There are several signs that can indicate worn-out brake discs, including:

Vibration

So, when driving along If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel or brake pedal when you apply the brakes, it may be due to worn-out brake discs. Many of my customers think this is something to do with wheel balance. But it is a different type of vibration caused by wheel balance.

Squeaking or Grinding Noise

Yet another common cause is when the driver can hear, squeaking or grinding noises when braking. Of course, that can indicate that the brake pads have worn down to the metal and are damaging the brake discs.

Reduced Braking Performance

So, when the discs  are subjected to hours of heating then the metal changes construction and softens. When this occurs it takes longer to stop your vehicle than usual or the brakes feel less responsive. Consequently, it may also be due to worn-out brake discs.

  • Visual Inspection

You can visually inspect the brake discs for signs of wear. If the disc has deep grooves, cracks, or a blue colour, it may be due to excessive heat and wear.

  • What Should You Do If Your Brake Discs are Worn Out?

If you suspect that your brake discs are worn out, it is essential to have them inspected by a qualified mechanic. Here are some steps you can take:

  • Replace the Brake Discs

If the brake discs are worn beyond their service limit, they must be replaced. It is essential to replace both brake discs on the same axle to ensure proper                   braking performance.

  • Replace the Brake Pads

Most commonly, then worn-out brake pads can cause excessive wear on the brake discs. Therefore, it is recommended to replace the brake pads at the same time as the brake discs.

  • Check the Brake System Components

It is essential to have the entire brake system inspected for wear and damage. Components such as brake callipers, brake hoses, and brake fluid should be                inspected and replaced if necessary.

What can I do ? Upgrade to High-Quality Brake Components

If you frequently drive in challenging conditions or want to improve braking performance. Consider upgrading to higher-quality brake components such as ceramic brake pads or drilled and slotted brake discs.

  1. How Can You Prevent Brake Disc Wear?

Regular maintenance and driving habits can help prolong the life of your brake discs. Here are some tips:

     2. Avoid Aggressive Driving Habits

Frequent hard braking and riding the brakes can accelerate the wear of the brake discs.

      3. Drive Carefully on Rough Roads

Driving on rough or unpaved roads can cause excessive wear on the brake discs.

      4.Use High-Quality Brake Components

High-quality brake pads and discs can last longer and provide better safety risk for your family and friends.

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Brake Problems- A good look at some common problems with Master Cylinder Auto Repair – Brakes Don …

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Brake Problems

Brake problems can be difficult to diagnose, but most drivers encounter these common symptoms: your brake pedal feels soft or mushy, when braking, your foot

Eric Roberts‘s insight:

Master cylinder brakes  fluid may need checking at regular intervals

This Brake Problems video and article written by Joyce Blay is well worth looking at. We in the garage and Autocentre sector are always advising the motorists. Of course, about how they should look after their cars. However, we cannot over stress the important of the cars braking system. Including, how important it is to have your brakes checked. By a professional mechanic or your local garage to avoid future Brake Problems.

The levels that are checked under your bonnet (hood) . Importantly,will include the level in your master cylinder. The lack of brake fluid in the Brake Master Cylinders will lead to spongy brakes and if not corrected will end up in Brake Problems and even brake failure.

Brake Problems

So have these levels checked and if required you may need a complete brake fluid change. This is something else that is recommended by the car manufacturers at intervals. So it is well worth checking to see what intervals this job should be done at. Also if you are topping up the master cylinder yourself, make sure you use the recommended type of fluid for your model, some are different to others, your user’s manual will tell you which fluid to use. These procedures may help eliminate any braking problems for the future!

brake revolution

Of course as time has gone by then brakes have become much more complicated. So one of big advances has been the introduction of ABS to our braking systems. Important to realise that in my life time then braking systems have improved beyond recognition. That is to say that when I was an apprentice mechanic then most regular cars only had drum brakes fitted front and rear.

Later cars that were in the upper class bracket such as Mercedes were fitted with disc brakes at the front. Developments were coming out of the racing car circuits. Consequently, technology would be passed from the racing circuit onto the every day regular cars. Motor racing sped up the developments of all aspects of the modern cars. Up to the latest developments! Including, the introduction of the AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking).So, this system will detect a potential vehicle impact and automatically apply the braking system.

To be truthful I am not sure how this is going to work but I am sure that it will be another brake system success.

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Cheap Brake Pads are they Worth It?

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Cheap Brake Pads

Cheap Brake Pads

Of course, your vehicle’s braking system is composed of multiple components. Subsequently, working in tandem to bring your vehicle to a halt once the brake pedal is engaged. The hydraulic system, which most automobiles utilize. Hence, uses fluid to transmit the pressure from the brake pedal to the brake. The brake discs, a wheel-mounted concave disk. Converts the kinetic energy into thermal energy, which is subsequently absorbed and dissipated by the brake.

Brake fluid is stored within the master cylinder and flows into the callipers through the brake Pipes(lines) Of course, which clamp the brake pads onto the rotors. Thus stopping the vehicle. The brake pads, which are composed of steel with surface-bound friction material. Ultimately, press against the rotor and create the necessary friction to decelerate and halt the car.

As all motorists know to their cost, then eventually, the pads will deteriorate due to constant contact with the rotors. Furthermore, driving habits can affect the brake pad’s lifespan. For instance, frequent braking or driving through urban areas. Which require frequent stops and starts, can necessitate brake pad replacement on a more often.

Four brake pad types are available, each with distinct performance and cost differences.

They are, in order of increasing price:

• Low-Metallic, Non-Asbestos Organic: These brake pads are budget-friendly, but they are also the loudest and generate the most brake dust, which can reduce braking effectiveness.

• Non-Asbestos Organic: These brake pads are made of rubber, glass, fiber, or Kevlar. They are extremely silent, but they wear out much faster than other types and generate a lot of dust.

• Semi-Metallic: These brake pads contain 30% to 65% metal, typically steel, copper, composite alloys, or iron. Durable and economical, semi-metallic brake pads are gentler on the rotors than ceramic pads, but they perform worse in extreme weather conditions and produce more noise.

• Ceramic: Ceramic brake pads are the most expensive, but they are also the highest-performing and most silent option. Unlike the plates in your kitchen cabinet, ceramic pads are interwoven with copper strands to make them tough enough to withstand prolonged usage.

CHEAP VERSUS EXPENSIVE BRAKE PADS

Most cars sold today come with non-asbestos organic brake pads. These are designed for road use and function well in your vehicle. Additionally, they are cost-effective, although they will need to be replaced frequently. Here at Pellon Tyres we use the best pads possible to suit the customers particular budget. We never us the cheapest pads or any other brake parts to that matter.

However, if you want a cleaner and quieter option, ceramic brake pads are the way to go. Although more expensive, ceramic pads will last much longer and can even extend the lifespan of other brake components because of their high heat resistance. Certain car models recommend we fit these ceramic pads, so we do!

It’s important to remember that ceramic brake pads produce less friction, resulting in a longer stopping distance. As a result, larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks are better off with organic pads.

Regardless of which type of brake pads you choose, it’s essential to invest in high-quality versions. Cheap brake pads not only generate a lot of dust and noise but also pose a significant safety hazard.

Brake pads are seeing to be the products of harmful dust and therefore bad for the environment. I fear that this will be a problem to face from governments regarding this in the future.

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Brake Failure in Preston

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Brake Failure in Preston

Brake Failure in Preston

Despite their importance, brakes are frequently ignored by vehicle owners. For my part, I was just as guilty of this when I was younger and a junior mechanic. Back in the sixties, I was just starting out as a mechanic, my boss Peter let me use his car for the day. He gave his blessing, but stressed the importance of checking the brakes and oil before heading to the British seaside resort of Blackpool.

As a newly qualified driver, I was going the maximum allowed speed of 30 miles per hour through the town of Preston as we drove back from Blackpool. Back then there were very little motorways and the route home took us on the main highway and through the town of Preston. Cruising down the high street, I should have been able to stop easily when I got to the pedestrian crossing. As I tried to use the brakes, though, they slid straight to the floor, and I had a terrifying rush of fear, as the car failed to stop.

First ever drive out of Yorkshire

I veered off the road and crashed onto the sidewalk to avoid hitting a pedestrian crossing the street. To slow the car, I pumped the brake pedal rapidly, creating enough resistance to bring the vehicle to a halt. Once my pals and I moved the car a hundred yards down the road to a mechanics shop, I lifted the hood and saw that the brake fluid level was at zero and a chill went down my spine.

Luckily, we were able to get topped up with Brake Fluid, so we replenished the reservoir and pumped the brakes till they worked again. Although it was a scary ordeal, we eventually made it back to Yorkshire. Having learned my lesson the hard way about the importance of working brakes, I swore never to let it happen again. Here are a few things you need to know about brake maintenance before setting out on a trip.

If you and your passengers value your lives, you should never go out on a long trip without first checking the brakes.

Here are six good reasons to inspect your brakes before every long trip:

  1. Brake failure can be avoided by performing routine inspections of the braking system, which will reveal any problems before they become catastrophic. Finding issues before setting off on a trip is preferable to discovering them mid-trip.
  2. To guarantee effective stopping, make sure: In order to stop your car, you must first apply the brakes. If they are in good working order, you won’t have to worry about being able to stop in time to avoid a collision.
  3. You can keep your brakes going for a lot longer if you perform routine maintenance on them. Such as checking for and replacing worn brake pads and shoes. In the long term, this can help you save money by reducing the need for costly brake repairs or replacements.
  4. Overheated brakes pose a serious threat to safety, especially while driving uphill or pulling a heavy trailer. If you give your brakes a once-over before you head out, you can keep them from overheating and still use them when you need them.

Improving the vehicle’s overall performance is a side effect of maintaining healthy brakes.

Your car will be easier to manoeuvre and more stable to drive.

Checking your brakes before starting off on a lengthy trip is crucial for your peace of mind. Confidence and security when driving are greatly enhanced when you know your brakes are in good working order.

Brake inspections should be part of a driver’s routine maintenance because they literally have life and death implications. As specified by the VOSA MOT test, the British MOT test has contributed significantly to the improvement of road safety in the UK. Because they were traditionally located beneath the vehicle, unprotected from the elements, checking the brake pipes was a hassle. They have a special coating of wax-oil or even plain grease to keep the elements at bay.

Even with this safeguard, brake pipes can rust and leak braking fluid over time, causing the brakes to gradually fail. Similar to what happened to me in Preston, this can be avoided by performing routine checks on your brake pipes.

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CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY- Regularly Checking your Cars Brakes Could Save Your Life ?

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CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

Along with your tyres , your car brakes are the most important (and sometimes most neglected) part of your car. I have been guilty of neglecting my brakes. Especially, when I was a young man. When I was a young mechanic, I borrowed a car from my then boss Peter.

Peter said that I could but I must check the car brakes. Also. the engine levels before setting off on my journey. I was heading for Blackpool. So, a seaside resort on the West coast of the UK. On our return home we started to pass through a town called Preston.

I was doing the statutory speed of 30 mph and was approaching a pedestrian crossing. Of course I should have had to stop. But, when I pressed the brake pedal. Then there was nothing there. Hence, the pedal went straight to the floor boards.

Consequently, I had to swerve the car to miss a guy walking across the crossing. Ending up on the pavement (side-walk). I rapidly pumped the pedal and managed to get some brakes. Thus, on the pedal. Luckily, the vehicle came to a stop. My  friends and I managed to push the car to a garage filling station. Of course, a hundred yards down the road.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY

 I lifted the bonnet (hood) only to find that the car brake fluid was at zero level.So. in the fluid reservoir. I felt a cold chill down my spine. Because, I remembered what my boss Peter had said. Just the day before we set off. We managed to buy some Tesco Brake Fluid and topped up the reservoir.

The car brakes pumped about half way up. Luckily the car would stop when I pressed the pedal. So, we limped home back to Yorkshire UK. Subsequently, a rather terrifying experience. Of course, which I vowed would never happen again. Lessons were learned that day. As a result, I am going to spell out a few important things about the care of your brake discs. Hence, for you to understand. Before you embark on a journey or indeed at any time that you own a car.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY-Your brakes are a life saver

The British MOT test has been a great step forward towards the safety of our cars and our roads. When your car is having it’s annual MOT test we check everything on that car ( to the  VOSA MOT test specifications). One of the problems of old was the checking of your car brake pipes.

Brake pipes connect all your four wheels braking system and the cylinders and brake pedal, and are fixed under the car, exposed to all the elements. They are protected by a special coating of wax-oil or sometimes just grease.

Despite all the protection. The Corroded Brake Pipes would rust and then start to leak the brake fluid, eventually causing the brakes to fail,similar to what happened to me in Preston.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY for corrosion

The MOT test makes sure that all your brake pipes (lines) are in good working order and if not the car will fail the test and the pipes will have to be replaced. If you are not sure about the condition of your brake pipes you can get them checked out at your local independent garage, free of charge, or the local garage that you use at the moment.

You must always check the brake fluid in the reservoir under your bonnet and top it up if required with the correct fluid. Check your brake pedal it should feel nice and solid, if it goes too far down then have yours checked by a professional garage or mechanic, don’t take risks, you should not have to pump your pedal to get a good brake.

You brake fluid should be changed every so often, this can be done when you have your car serviced, your local garage will be able to ascertain when, by looking it up on his service
computer for your model of car, we use the Autodata system for checking out the fluid change times.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY Including the Fluid Levels

Also you should check your Disc Brakes and Car Brake Pads. These are the parts that constantly wear out and need replacing with Brake Pipe Kits when they get down to a certain thickness.

When the pads wear down to the the metal part of the pads, then this is when you can hear a loud grinding noise that frightens the driver to death. Once again if this happens then you should have your car brakes checked by a professional mechanic or your local garage.

Once again if you have your car serviced when you have your annual MOT test then your brakes will be checked and should be fine for the next year to come. If your brake pedal does not feel right or goes further down than it should before you get a brake, then have the car checked out do not continue to drive before the car is checked by an expert.

CHECK YOUR CAR BRAKES REGULARLY- Thanks www.mot-halifax.co.uk

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and Car Brakes Repairs to all makes of vehicles.  Selling tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk.
Using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. Offering courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work and leave their car with us. Of course, for work doing. Official MOT testing station.