Month: June 2013

When Should you Replace your Brake Pads and Rotors?

CC image IROC Brake Upgrade by Nick Ares on FlickrYour brakes are arguably the most important part of your vehicle because they regulate your speed and help prevent accidents. Anyone who has had brake trouble can tell you how important it is to address any problems as quickly as possible. If your car takes a long time to come to a complete stop, or if you hear grinding noises coming from your car when you brake, you might have broken or worn out brake pads and rotors.

How do brake pads and rotors work?

When you apply the breaks in your vehicle, you begin a process that slows the momentum of your car. The two main components in this process are your:

  • Break pads; and
  • Disk break rotors

Different vehicles require different types of break pads and rotors, but they all serve the same function. As you break, your break pads clamp down on your spinning rotor. The kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy as your break pads clamp onto the rotors to bring the car to a stop. Your car is essentially turning forward momentum into heat.

By picturing this process in your head, you can understand why it’s better for you to come to a slow stop than to slam on your brakes. A slow, gradual stop will create less heat in your brake system. Similar to when we discussed proper tire inflation, systems wear out quicker when they operate at a higher temperature. If you’re constantly slamming on your brakes, you’re exposing them to intense thermal energy.

Types of rotors

There are a few different styles of rotors available for your vehicle. Although there are rotors specially designed for performance vehicles (like racecars) and heavy vehicles (like 18-wheelers or fire trucks), we’ll focus on the two main rotors that are used among typical drivers.

  • Drilled rotors are probably the most common type of rotor on the road. A drilled rotor has small holes drilled into the side. These holes help regulate the thermal energy produced during braking, which keeps your rotors operating at a cooler temperature. Although they help get rid of excess heat, drilled rotors are weaker than other types of rotors because there are holes in the disc. Drilled rotors can crack after being exposed to long-term stress.
  • Slotted rotors are the other main type of rotor used in passenger cars. A slotted rotor has small divots in the disk that help regulate temperature. Because the divots aren’t full blown holes, slotted rotors tend to be more durable than drilled rotors. That being said, slotted rotors tend to wear down your brake pads faster than their drilled counterparts, so most people opt for drilled rotors.

How often should you replace brake pads and rotors?

There are a lot of different answers out there for when you should replace your break pads and rotors. You should consult with your trusty auto mechanic when you’re having either replaced, as they can estimate how long certain pads and rotors will last. As a general rule, break pads should be replaced every 10,000-20,000 miles, while rotors should usually be replaced every 50,000-70,000 miles.

With that said, it is imperative to get your brakes checked the first time you hear grinding or crunching while braking. The noise usually mean your break pads are worn and need to be replaced. If you continue to drive with worn pads, your rotors can become damaged. By replacing your pads before they become too worn, you can actually extend the life of your rotors, which will save you money.

Related sources:  PrimeChoiceAutoParts.com, HowStuffWorks.com

How Often Should I Check my Tire Pressure?

CC image Kids checking the tire pressure by notpierre on FlickrEveryone knows how to determine if their car is running low on gas, but how can you tell if your tires are running low on air? Tire pressure is often overlooked, but proper inflation is key to extending the life of your vehicle and your tires. In fact, not only will properly inflated tires extend the life of your tire tread, but it will also save you money on gas and keep your family safer on the road. Below, we discuss the in’s and out’s of proper tire pressure.

Why should I care about my tire pressure?

Some people believe as long as their tires pass the eye test, they are properly inflated (i.e. My tires don’t look flat, so they must be good to drive on). While it’s always a good idea to visually inspect your tires before you get behind the wheel, you could be compromising your safety and hard-earned money if your tires are over or underinflated.

  • Overinflated tires are problematic because it decreases the amount of tread that can touch the ground. This means you’ll have less stability and traction. Over-inflation can also make a tire more susceptible to blowout.
  • Underinflated tires will wear out faster than their properly inflated counterparts. Because your wheels are compensating for the added stress of low tire pressure, they will begin to overheat. Hot tires lose their tread much quicker than tires that are operating at the optimal temperature.
  • Properly inflated tires will save you money at the gas pump. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage by over 3% by keeping your tires at the proper pressure level. That’s roughly 12 cents a gallon. Assuming the average consumer fills up their 15-gallon tank once a week, properly inflated tires will save you $93.60 a year.

When should I check my tire pressure?

Regular tire pressure checks are the best way to ensure your tires are running at the optimal pressure level. Give your tires a visual check every time you approach your vehicle, and get in the habit of preforming another check when you’re at the pump. You can find a handheld pressure gauge at your local hardware store, and keeping the gauge in your vehicle makes checking your tires a breeze. If you check your pressure while you’re getting gas, you can usually always find a pressure pump close by if you’re running low. If you don’t want to check your tires that often, a good rule of thumb to follow is to check your tire pressure once a month.

How Long Can I Drive on a Spare Tire?

CC image Wikipedia.orgUnless you’ve only been driving for a few years, chances are you’ve had to deal with a spare tire at some point in your life. Whether you popped a tire on the middle of the highway, or you simply returned to your vehicle to find a deflated tire, you’ve probably had to throw the old donut on the car to provide a short-term fix for the problem.

Your spare tire can get you out of a sticky situation, but you don’t want to rely on the tire for too long. Because the spare tire is usually a smaller, different version than the four tires on your vehicle, it’s not built for extended travel. The job of the spare tire is to keep you safe until you can visit an auto repair shop to have a regular tire installed.

Although you should consult your owner’s manual for a specific answer, a good rule of thumb to follow is to limit your travel on the spare tire to no more than 50-70 miles.

The main reason why you shouldn’t drive too far on your spare tire is because you may be putting yourself and everyone else on the road in danger. The spare tire is a small tire with very little tread, meaning it doesn’t have a very good grip on the road. This is especially dangerous if you are driving in elements like snow or rain.

When you’re driving on your spare tire, you may notice your car has poor handling or braking. This is more evident if your spare is needed on the front axel, where braking occurs. You may also notice that your car slightly pulls in the direction of the spare tire. As you can imagine, this occurs because the spare is not as equipped to handle stress like your regular set of wheels.

If you have any questions about your spare tire, or if you need to have a regular tire installed on your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact us!  We’re always happy to help.

Related source:  AOL Autos

How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?

CC image Wikipedia.orgAside from the brakes, your tires are arguably one of the most important parts of your car because they are tasked with keeping you safe while on the road.  Many people often overlook simple tire maintenance, opting for other routine fixes like oil changes, brake checks, etc.  While those steps are essential in prolonging the life of your vehicle, proper tire maintenance can increase your gas mileage, extend the life of your tires, and prevent flats.  Below, we’ll explain how often you should rotate your tires.

Why we rotate

This may be common knowledge to some, but did you know that tire rotation has nothing to do with rotating the tire around an axle?  Tire rotation means you take all four tires off the car and put them on a different axle.

Some tires will wear down quicker depending on your type of vehicle.  Because your car often bears the majority of the weight in the front, your front tires can wear down twice as quickly as your back tires.  In order to compensate for the uneven wear, mechanics will swap your rear tires with your front tires.  Your trusty mechanic may also swap tires from the left side to the right and vice versa because one side may be subjected to more stress.

What if I skip regular tire rotation?

You could be putting yourself in danger if you neglect to rotate your tires.  Your car could begin to pull to one direction if one tire is significantly more worn down than the others, and it can also increase your chances of popping a tire at high speeds.

Also, you may be hitting the gas pump more frequently if you fail to regularly rotate your tires.  The more evenly dispersed the tire wear is, the smoother the car will run.  The less friction or pull caused by a vehicle, the less work it takes to run, which in turn saves you gas.

When should I rotate?

Although it will depend on your specific vehicle, most owners’ manuals suggest that you should rotate your tires every 3,000-10,000 miles.  Since you should get your oil changed every 3,000-7,000 miles, a good rule of thumb is to get your tires rotated every other time you change your oil.

Some places may even offer the service as part of their oil change package.  Most auto shops will at least check your tires during an oil change and recommend a rotation if they notice a different in tread wear.  A standard tire rotation usually costs between $20-$30, making it a cheap tune-up that shouldn’t be skipped.

Related source:  AOL Autos