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4 Signs That Your Vehicle's Brake Rotors May Need To Be Replaced

25 January 2017 by Herman Mills

An automobile's brake system has several components that work together to properly bring a car to a stop. Brake pads are connected to the brake calipers, and when the brake pedal is engaged, the brake pads squeeze to brake rotors until the vehicle slows and completely stops. Rotors can go bad, and when this happens, it is important to have them replaced so your car's whole brake system is not damaged. Some common signs that the rotors on your car have gone bad and are warped include the following:

Vibration

One of the more common signs of bad brake rotors is vibration when the brake pedal is pressed. You may feel a strong vibration in the brake pedal when you are braking. Since the rotors are attached to the same spindle as the wheels, it is also possible that you will feel the steering wheel begin to vibrate while braking.

Strange Sounds

If your brake rotors are bad, your vehicle will most likely let you know. Brake rotors can often go bad if the brake pads are not changed when they wear down. When it is time to replace the brake pads on your vehicle, you will most likely hear a squealing or screeching sound while braking. If you neglect to replace the brake pads and the rotors become warped, you may hear a low grinding sound or a continual thumping sound while braking. If you encounter these sounds, you should have your brakes serviced and the rotors repaired as quickly as possible.

Score Marks

A visual inspection of the rotors can also let you know if they have gone bad and need to be replaced. Over time and with a lot of use, small groves called score marks can develop on the rotors where the brake pads make contact. When there are too many of these score marks, it can be much harder for the brake pads to squeeze the rotors and slow down the car properly. If you are mechanically inclined, you can examine your rotors yourself for signs of excessive score marking. In the event that you don't know much about cars, visit an auto shop to see if your rotors are excessively scored and need to be replaced.

Bad Wheel Bearing

A worn out wheel bearing can allow a wheel to wobble while in motion, which can put stress on the brake system and eventually warp the rotors and cause uneven wear on the brake pads. If your wheels feel wobbly when driving, have the wheel bearing replaced and the brake system inspected to see if any damage was done to the rotors or other components. 

For more information about your brakes, contact auto brake repair service companies like Alaskan Auto Center Inc.

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