How Often Do I Need to Get My Brakes Checked?
At Mazda of Orange, we prioritize the safety of our customers. Checking your brakes is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your vehicle is able to drive safely on the road. It is also a great way to save money, instead of spending money on costly repairs.
How Often Should You Get Your Brakes Checked?
It is often advisable to check your vehicle’s braking system every six months. It is also important to replace your brake pads after every 15,000 miles of service. If you want to be safer while on the road, you can have your brake system inspected and serviced more often. Also, it is important to replace brake rotors every 50,000 to 70,000 miles to ensure they continue functioning properly.
How Do Brakes Work?
There are many components of your vehicle that can affect the braking system. When you press on the brake, your vehicle must multiply the force you apply with your foot. The brake system does this with friction and hydraulic force. After you push the pedal, a lever forces a piston into a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder. This brake fluid pressure is what forces the brake pads to grab the rotor when you push on the pedal. This friction slows or stops the wheels of your vehicle.
What Are the Warning Signs?
A loud squealing or grinding noise from your vehicle’s braking system is a signal that something is wrong with your brakes. This can be one of the most common signs of impending brake failure and should be attended to immediately. Another common warning sign is when you have to push hard on your brake pedal in order to stop your vehicle. If you have to press harder on the pedal, it can be a sign that something is not right with your brakes. Ignoring noises and “mushy” brakes could lead to the brakes no longer working.
How Long Do Brake Pads Last?
Depending on how often you drive your vehicle, there are different times in which you need to change brake pads and rotors. Generally, if you drive more than 20,000 miles, it might be time to replace your brake pads. If you drive your vehicle over 50,000 miles, it could be time to replace the rotors.
Some variables that may affect this are how you drive and the weight of your vehicle. For example, if you drive a small sedan, your brake pads will last longer than someone driving a large truck. Stopping a heavier vehicle requires more pressure on the pads and rotors, which leads to faster wear on the pads. If you have poor driving habits, such as waiting till the last second to bring your vehicle to a stop, that can also cause premature wear on the brakes.
How Do You Visually Inspect Your Brakes?
If you notice that your brake pedal is sticking and making a squealing sound, this may be a sign of problems with your brake pressure or possibly the brakes themselves. To visually examine your brakes, your car needs to be on a lift, which is generally only safe with professional help. Though you can’t visually inspect the entire brake system without professional help, you can look at the brake pads to check for evidence of wear.
To do this, you can use a flashlight to look through the spokes of your wheel. For most vehicles, you can find the brake pad there. Notice how thick the brake pad looks and identify any other signs of wear, such as the absence of brake dust. If you’re not confident in your visual assessment of your brake pads, you may consider other warning signs, such as feeling a vibration sensation when you press your brake pedal. If you suspect something isn’t working properly with your brakes, it’s easy and best to contact Mazda of Orange for professional guidance.
Where Do You Get Your Brake Pads or Rotors Replaced?
We offer brake pads and rotors replacement at Mazda of Orange. It is important for us to ensure the brakes are working without fail to ensure the safety of our customers. We have a highly trained service department that can help you and can provide free estimates on any repairs you may have in mind. Our employees are knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to repairing all sorts of issues, so you can depend on getting the best results possible from your repairs at our dealership.
Can You Replace The Brake Pads on Damaged Rotors?
It is not advisable and is potentially unsafe to replace brake pads on a vehicle with non-functioning rotors. If your rotors have become compromised, pitted, or grooved, it is likely they will ruin any brake pad that is installed on the wheel. To ensure a safe and cost-effective repair, you may have to replace both the rotors and the pads.
Why Should You Have Your Rotors Replaced?
The most common reason to replace rotors is that they are damaged, either by coming in contact directly with parts of the brake system without an active pad or because of an external force that caused the damage. Our mechanics do many different types of repairs on rotors, so we will be able to diagnose your vehicle’s issue and determine what type of repair it requires.
If the rotors are damaged or otherwise unusable, we will be able to fix or replace them as soon as possible, so you can get back on the road safely without worrying about having a brake failure on the roadways.
It is important that you schedule a service appointment at Mazda of Orange in order to get your vehicle’s braking system inspected and serviced on time. Never ignore the warning signs that can lead to costly repairs or even breakdowns while on the road. Make Mazda of Orange your top choice when it comes to servicing or repairing any issues related to your vehicle’s braking system.
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