The Dangers of Driving with Failing Brakes!
& Why You Should Care.
Driving with failing brakes is never a good idea. It may come as a surprise but the number of drivers on the road that are actively driving with failing brakes without knowing it is much higher than you may think! Did you know that roughly 300,000 car crashes per year are caused by bad or failing brakes? We know accidents happen, but that is a pretty high number of crashes due to failing brakes if you ask us!
Friction braking is the most commonly used braking method in modern everyday vehicles. It involves the conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy by applying friction to the moving parts of a system. The friction force resists motion and in turn generates heat, eventually bringing the velocity to zero. The typical brake line pressures during an average vehicle stop range from less than 800psi under “normal” conditions, to as much as 2000psi in a maximum effort.
What Happens When You Drive With Failing Brakes?
Once brake pads wear down to the backing plate and you continue to drive with grinding brakes, the brake pad will slip out of the caliper bracket causing the caliper to over-extend and contact the rotor. Resulting in the loss of brake pressure due to the calipers’ piston breaking its seal.
There are so many things that can happen & go wrong with your vehicle when driving with worn-down brake pads. Including the following:
Loss of Brake Pressure
Brake Pressure is measured in English units as pounds per square inch (psi), it’s the force applied to the brake pedal in pounds multiplied by the pedal ratio divided by the area of the master cylinder in square inches. The loss of brake fluid leads to a loss of hydraulic pressure, so the brake pedal will feel soft or low and go to the floor.
Further Damage to the Braking System
When you apply your brakes, the brake pads squeeze the rotor to stop your car. However, when the pads are excessively worn, the exposed metal on the pads grinds against the rotors every time you brake which will likely damage the rotors over time.
Raise the Cost of Repair
It may go without saying, but the longer you drive with failing brakes the more problems that arise & the more expensive it will get. Your car’s brakes are an intricate system of moving parts that work very closely together. If even one part of your car’s braking system is compromised it could quickly lead to much greater problems that cost much more than new brakes!
Get your brakes checked.
A lot of wear & tear can diminish your brakes over time, you must get them checked to make sure they are in good working condition. There are many warning signs that your brakes need to be replaced. The most common ones are screeching noises, grinding noises, squishy brake pedals, shaking steering wheel when stopping, & reduced stopping speed.
If you are experiencing any of these & don’t know how to check on your brakes, do not worry- 2’u’Brakes is Greater Cincinnati’s leader in on-site automotive brake repair services!
Get Your Brakes Checked Now Before More Costly Repairs Are Required!
Save time. Save money. Stay safe. Take advantage of the convenience of our mobile brake repair in Cincinnati and surrounding areas!
2’u’Brakes is Greater Cincinnati’s leader in on-site automotive brake repair services! We offer brake repair services, fleet management services, oil changes, tire rotation & more! Whether you are at home, at work, or just about anywhere in the Greater Cincinnati area, we can help you get back on the road. Hire The Auto Llama today.
