Page 11 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – January 2021

Protect Your Safety, and Your Wallet, with Proper Brake Maintenance
When it comes to
staying safe on the road, a
car’s ability to stop quickly
is one of the most critical
systems on the vehicle.
Most drivers don’t give
their brakes much thought
until they start to notice
problems and many don’t
realize that the proverbial “ounce of prevention” is especially good advice with regard to their braking system.
It pays to keep in mind that brake pads are the least expensive first line of defense against more costly repairs. The first sign that might alert a driver that a car may need new brake pads is the need to fully depress the brake pedal to stop. While it might be tempting to put off replacing them, that decision could cost more in the long run.
Brake pads in good condition actually protect some of the other components of the braking system. As brake pads wear down, extra stress is placed on parts such as rotors, drums and calipers. Driving with worn brake pads can warp the rotors and drums and make it more difficult to come
to a stop. If your vehicle vibrates and your steering wheel shakes while braking, that’s a sign that your rotors or drums may be warped and that you need to get to a repair facility right away. Slight damage to these components can usually be repaired by resurfacing, but more significant damage usually requires replacing them.
Continuing to drive with worn brake pads is a safety issue, plus it causes more extensive – and expensive – damage to your braking system. As brake pads wear further, the calipers and shoes that hold the pads can start to grind directly against the rotors and drums. This might cause enough damage to necessitate the replacement of all those components.
Screeching or grinding sounds when you apply the brakes or a lit brake warning light are signals to take your car in for a brake check. The smell of burning rubber or other strange odors that seem to come from the wheel area could point to a major problem with any one of the braking system components and should be investigated immediately by a qualified repair facility.
With regular maintenance checks, you can stay on top of how fast your brake pads are wearing and avoid more costly repairs by replacing them at the appropriate time.
Six Tips for Safer Winter Driving
It’s no surprise that winter is the most dangerous season to be on the road. Snow, ice and rain make it more difficult to safely stop and maneuver, so drivers need to be especially diligent when driving in winter conditions.
Below are some tips that can help keep you and your passengers safe during excursions
this season:
Leave early: Trips take longer in bad weather, so plan for that and allow extra time to reach your destination so that you aren’t under time pressures that might prompt you to cut corners with safety.
Slow down: When driving on snow or ice, it’s essential to drive slower to account for reduced traction. This often means driving below the posted speed limit.
Never use cruise control: Slippery winter roads are not the place to engage cruise control. It
can cause your vehicle to lose control more easily, whether in the very low-traction conditions caused by snow and ice or by hydroplaning on wet roads.
Increase following distance: Allow five to six seconds of following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly:
Applying the gas and brake pedals slowly will help retain traction and avoid skids. Keep in mind that it takes longer to slow down on slick roads, so adjust your driving accordingly.
Don’t panic: If you start to slide, hitting the brake is the worst thing to do. Instead, take your feet off the pedals and keep your eyes focused on where you want to go as you steer.
JANUARY 2021 | 9
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