Bad brakes are a big deal. You might think that the only consequence of driving with bad brakes is that annoying squealing sound you keep hearing, but in fact, it can affect a lot of aspects of your vehicle's safety and functionality. According to Repair Smith, brake pads should be replaced when there is less than a quarter-inch of pad remaining. Unfortunately, many people try to see just how long they can go before replacing brakes. Let's look at a few ways ignoring your bad brakes can affect your car.

Tire Damage

Bad brakes will wear down your tires prematurely. The brakes and tires are closely connected and affect each other. Impaired brakes can lead to severe and irreversible damage to the tires. The worse your brakes get, the more you will have to compensate by slamming them on and other bad driving behaviors. If you continue to ignore your brakes, you will soon have a very expensive repair job on your hands.

Rotor Damage

Your tires are not the only part of the vehicle that will suffer if you ignore brake repairs. Rotors are an integral part of the braking system. Rotors will immediately start to suffer when the brakes have gone bad. When pressure is applied to the brakes, it is directly put on the rotors if the brake pads are bad. This misplaced pressure will then result in the rotors warping and cracking. However, when brake pads are changed when they should be, the rotors will last much longer. This saves you time and money and makes your vehicle safer to operate.

Caliper Damage

Calipers are the other part of your vehicle you can expect to be damaged if you refuse to change your brakes in a timely manner. The calipers control the brake pads and are a buffer for the rotors. When the pads wear down, the calipers begin to grind against the rotors. This is often the cause of the squeaking or squealing sounds you hear when your brakes start to go bad. Every time you hear that noise, remember your calipers and rotors are being damaged. To avoid these expensive problems, have your brakes serviced regularly.

If you are in need of brake repairs or tires, please contact us today at Joe's Tire Shop, Inc. We are here for your automotive needs.