| One of the subtle car problems that sometimes | | | | Towing heavy vehicles or trailers and driving |
| can be hard to find is when you have a problem | | | | downhill in the mountains, Crooked roads can also |
| with your car's disc brake system. However, if | | | | contribute to warped parts, especially if there is |
| you know what to look for, some of these | | | | water, slush or snow on the road. Driving on |
| problems can readily identified. There are different | | | | winding roads and applying the brakes over and |
| indications if your systems become damaged. The | | | | over again can cause this overheating problem. |
| first one is if you've have been feeling a shimmy | | | | If you feel a slight pull to one side of the road or |
| in the steering wheel. Another one is a vibration in | | | | another when braking this can be a sign of bad |
| the brake pedal when you apply the brakes. A | | | | disc or even brake calipers that need rebuilding |
| third indication is if the brake pedal starts pumping | | | | because of bad brake rotors . It can also be a |
| up and down, even slightly, you may have bad | | | | sign of a low tire. A spongy feeling in your brake |
| disc brakes rotors. | | | | pedal can be caused by excessively hot parts. |
| Disc rotors, are the part of the brake system | | | | This extra heat can boil the fluid in the brake |
| that spins with the wheels, and the brake pads | | | | calipers. If the brake fluid has been boiled or is |
| contacts when the brakes are applied. These | | | | over two years old, you should change it. The |
| parts can become very hot. If you've ever seen | | | | brake system and the disc rotors will no longer |
| a side or an under the car picture of the front | | | | stop your car safely if the fluid is bad. Also normal |
| wheels on a race car, you've probably have seen | | | | brake fluid collects moisture and this extra |
| brake rotors turn red and glow. | | | | moisture will cause problems with your entire |
| When driving on the street you will seldom get | | | | braking system, especially if you have newer |
| the this race car glow from a rotor, but your | | | | brakes. Bad rotors are a problem in some cars. |
| rotors can become hot enough to warp, especially | | | | Warping can cause other problems also such as |
| if you drive through puddles of water or snow | | | | strange sounds from your wheels and sometimes |
| after making multiple stops and starts. The | | | | a vibration that can also be felt in the seat of |
| warping is caused by uneven heating in different | | | | your pants. Replacing these parts can be an |
| areas of the metal. One tip is to never have your | | | | expensive proposition, depending upon your car. |
| car washed after driving any distance. The cold | | | | Popular replacement parts can sell for under $60 |
| wash water on hot discs can warp them. | | | | while exotic car rotors can go for over $500 for |
| Disc brake pads are always in light constant | | | | a set of front brake or rear brake rotors. With |
| contact with rotors. If the driver has a bad habit | | | | new exotic materials like carbon fiber brakes, a |
| of leaving his foot on the brake pedal, called "riding | | | | complete brake job can be over $20,000, on a |
| the brakes", all the time the brakes will | | | | $200,000 plus car. |
| prematurely wear out and the rotors will run | | | | Your brakes are one of the most important |
| hotter. Second tip, this is a bad habit and should | | | | devices in your car that can help protect your life. |
| be avoided if you don't want to be replacing your | | | | They should not be ignored when you sense any |
| disc system. | | | | type of a problem. Take your car to a |
| Here is another way you can harm your brakes. | | | | professional and have it repaired correctly. |