September 13, 2017
Let's talk about something critical for all Aurora drivers: your brakes. Your vehicle is heavy, and it takes a lot of muscle to bring it and your passengers to a safe stop – so everything needs to be in good working order.
Here's an explanation on how your disc brakes work:
The wheel hub keeps your wheel attached to your vehicle. The brake disc – or rotor – is attached to the hub and rotates with the wheel as you drive around Aurora. Your brake pads clamp onto the rotor to slow the wheel.
The brake caliper straddles the rotor and squeezes the rotor to slow it down. The calipers contain brake pads which press on the rotor when you put your foot on the brake. The brake piston causes the calipers to squeeze and release as you use your vehicle brakes.
Your brake pads start to wear the first time you step on the brakes. Eventually the pads wear out and need to be replaced. If you don't replace the pads when they're worn out, the metal parts of the brake will grind against the rotor and carve grooves into the surface. We've all heard grinding brakes and it's not a pretty sound.
If a rotor isn't scored significantly, your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Aurora technician can put it on a lathe and smooth it out. If the grooves are too deep or if the rotor is warped or cracked, you need to replace it.
Sometimes brake pistons can stick and must be replaced. Typically it's cheaper to replace the entire caliper at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Aurora in Aurora than to rebuild the piston.
So there you have it – an important lesson on how your disc brakes work. If you replace brake pads on time, it will not only keep your vehicle stopping safely but could save you cash on unnecessary repairs down the road.
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Aurora
3190 N. Aurora Rd.
Aurora, Illinois 60502
630-898-6688
March 30, 2025
There's lots of good information to read in books and online. You might not know that you can also "read" your tires and learn a lot about what shape they're in and if they are in need of attention. It's important to know how your tires are doing because a tire failure can be very dangerous to y... More
March 23, 2025
As your vehicle ages, its performance isnt quite what it used to be, but many of us never notice the change because its gradual. So here are a few questions to ask yourself. Does your vehicle feel like it doesnt have the pep that it used to? Have you noticed your fuel economy isnt quite as good... More
March 16, 2025
Youve probably already heard that regular oil changes are extremely important for the health of your vehicles engine. Thats sound advice. But what you might not know is when it comes to motor oil, the real thing may not be the best thing for your engine. There are different types of motor oil: ... More