Your vehicle is made up of thousands of important parts. Two of the most important parts are the brake pads and the brake rotors.
We at Ray Price Chevrolet are committed to helping our customers in every way possible. Today, we will be doing that by giving you all the information you need to know about the difference between and functionality of your brake pads and brake rotors.
Brake pads are what they sound like: they are rectangular pads often made from steel and other friction-inducing material. Under the thick layer of friction material is a steel plate that holds the pad in the right place.
While all brake pads are made to do the same job, they're not all made the same. Depending on your driving habits, environment, and recommendations from the manufacturer, you can order brake pads of varying hardness and durability to accommodate those driving habits.
These brake pads are connected to the brake calipers, which also have an important job. When the brake is applied, the calipers clamp together, and the brake pads are used to slow down and stop the vehicle.
Brake pads and brake rotors may be different, but they work side-by-side. Brake rotors, which are also commonly referred to as brake discs, are flat circular discs that are located on the axle and rotate at the same time as your wheel and tire.
Brake rotors are typically made of hard materials, like steel or cast iron, and can be solid or hollowed out depending on your driving preferences. Solid brake rotors are used in smaller, lighter vehicles while hollowed out rotors are good for large vehicles or vehicles that can trailer any amount of weight, because they're less likely to overheat.
They all do the same job, though, which is to work with the brake pads to stop your vehicle. When you press down on the brake pedal, this will cause the brake calipers to press the brake pads against the rotors. This causes friction and eventually gets the rotors, and the wheels, to stop turning.
We've already mentioned a few of the characteristics that make brake pads and brake rotors so different. Along with their differences in what they're made of, how they're used, and what their jobs are, these two vehicle parts also differ when it comes to maintenance schedules.
Brake pads are made of softer material which causes them to break down faster. Generally speaking, your brake pads will need to be changed or at least looked at every 50,000 miles. With your rotors, you can wait a little longer. It's usually good to have them changed or inspected every 70,000 miles.
One thing to note is that these maintenance schedules can vary based on how you drive. If you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic, you may need to have these parts checked and/or replaced more often.
We hope this guide gave you all the information drivers in Mount Pocono, Tobyhanna, Scranton, East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg need to maintain their brake pads and brake rotors.
If you still have questions or think it's time to have these parts inspected or replaced, don't hesitate to give us a call at Ray Price Chevrolet today or schedule an appointment!
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