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Now, really…have you ever known anything that just got better on its own, with you doing nothing about it? Probably not!

Your car’s brakes work something like the handbrakes on a bicycle. When you press the brake pedal, a piston moves inside the master cylinder reservoir, sending hydraulic pressure through the brake lines to the wheel calipers. The wheel calipers enclose the smooth steel rotors , and another piston forces two brake pads of friction material against the rotor, causing enough drag to slow and stop it.

Friction material is semimetallic or ceramic and wears very slowly – brake pads typically last 40-60,000 miles. As a result, it can be hard to tell when brakes are becoming significantly worn. These are all signs you need brake replacement soon, though…

• Pronounced pull to one side while braking
• Excessive brake pedal travel
• Pulsation through brake pedal while braking
• Brake pedal slowly goes to floor while holding car at a stop, in gear
• Longer stopping distances
• Tendency for one or more wheels to lock up and skid while braking
• Squeal, groan or metallic grinding noise while braking

Of all the above, the metallic grinding noise is the worst sign, by far, and it means that your brake repair costs are about to go up. It means that the brake pads are worn down to their steel backing plates and rivets; all the braking effect you’re getting is from metal-on-metal as the rivets dig into the smooth steel surface of the rotors. A routine brake job just got a lot more expensive, as you’re now going to have to replace the rotors…not to mention that your car is very unsafe until you get the repairs done!

The moral? Don’t put off your brake service unless you are just dying to spend a lot more money on brake repair costs. We know you’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to brake repair shops, and we hope you’ll come to Auto Express for brake replacement in Sacramento. Make an appointment with us today!