The most common cause of shortened brake pad life comes from sticking brakes. See when the brake pedal is depressed it acts upon the master cylinder which distributes this force in the form of compressed fluid to the brake caliper which clamps the brake pads down on the rotors. When the brake pedal is released everything works backwards and the brake pads go back to their original position. But what happens if the brake pads don’t move back when the brakes are released? The brake pads and rotors would still be touching each other and the friction will wear them both down. This is what is known as sticking brakes.  It happens quite often and most of the time you won’t notice it until your car is in for service and the technician tells you one or more of your brake pads are wearing down faster than the rest. There are a couple of ways this can happen.

Partially seized brake calipers are one. The brake calipers have an internal piston that clamps on the pads when the vehicle is braking. Overtime the caliper piston can seize causing the brakes to not fully retract.

Brakes could also stick if the caliper slide pins aren’t lubricated with grease. The slide pins connect the brake caliper to the caliper bracket which is how the caliper is mounted on over the rotor. The pins allow the caliper to slide when the brakes are applied which helps the pads retract when released.

Worn suspension can also shorten the life of your brakes. The springs and shocks help support the vehicle weight. There are many different types of body motion when the car is rolling down the road but the one we will concentrate on here is dive. When the car comes to a stop all the weight slides forward causing the car to dive. Worn springs and shocks will put more weight and stress on the brakes causing them to work harder and wear faster. It also increases the stopping distance when you brake.

Although there are other causes, these the main culprits of shortened brake pad life. So now you can understand the forces at play every time you step on the brake pedal. A good service technician will not only service your brakes, but also figure out if your brakes are wearing down faster than they should and why. So feel free to stop by MR Auto SD to have your brakes checked out. Until next time be safe out there.

There are many variables in play when it comes to squeezing every last bit of life from your brake pads. And although technology has come a long way to aid us in this task, a lot of it comes down to lifestyle and driving habits. So here’s what you can do as a driver to make sure you paying your mechanic a visit all the time.

Speed is one of the top reasons brakes don’t last. The faster you drive, the more kinetic energy there is for the brakes to dissipate. When the brakes pads clamp down on the rotors it produces thermal energy. When they work harder they also get hotter leading to more wear.  Slowing down saves lives, and brakes too!

Keeping your brakes applied unnecessarily also shortens the life of your brakes. So wherever possible keep your foot off the brake if you don’t need to slow down. Coasting along with as little acceleration as possible helps save gas and brake life. That’s a win win. Also if you’re traveling up a hill toward a red light, let gravity help you out and let off the gas pedal a little earlier. Paying attention to the road will help you avoid accidents as well as sudden stops.

Besides driving habits, you might just be carrying around a lot of extra weight. No I don’t mean the kind we all have left over from Thanksgiving. But many of us keep too much junk in our cars that we don’t need and probably can live without on a regular basis. Every bit of extra weight works against you when you are speeding up and slowing down a car or any vehicle for that matter.

Next time we will dive into the mechanical aspects of break wear. So stay tuned for the next installment. And if ever you’re in need of a brake check, call or stop by MR Auto SD.

First, check your tires. Check the entire tire for tread wear. Using a penny, place it inside the tread with Abe’s head sticking down. If you can see the top of his hair then it’s time for new tires. Tread depth is not the only thing you should check though, also check the entire tire for signs of cracking and heat wear. Tires older than 5 years start to crack after being through so many heat cycles, these tires are more susceptible to blow outs when put under a lot of stress. Lastly, check the inflation pressure to make sure it’s correct. The factory specs can be found in the driver door jam. Tires should be adjusted when cold.

Now while you’re there, see if you can take a peek at those brake pads to make sure they still have enough life. Some cars are easier than others, but if you have a small mirror it also helps. A brake pad has an inside lining and a outside backing plate. The inner lining (inside pad material) should be thicker or at least as thick as the backing plate. If the inside is lower than the outside, it probably is time for new brakes.

Lastly pop the hood open and check all the fluids. The main fluids to keep an eye on are the engine oil, and the engine coolant as well as the transmission fluid if your vehicle is automatic. The most important thing is that the fluids are full, if they are discolored then you’ll probably want to get each system checked and serviced.

Lastly check the battery. Is there any corrosion you can see? Corrosion is caused by hydrogen being released from the acid in your battery and depending on which terminal it’s on, it could mean it’s overcharging or undercharging. An overcharging battery will corrode the Positive (+) terminal while an under-charging battery will corrode the negative (-) terminal. Most auto repair shops or parts stores will run a battery test for you free of charge.

Now that everything is checked you can head out on the road with peace of mind. Don’t forget to take a quick peek under the hood every time you stop for gas. If ever you are unsure of your vehicle’s road worthiness feel free to stop by MR Auto SD and more than happy to check it out and make sure you and your car make it wherever you need to go safely.