How Do You Know If Your Rotors Are Bad?

The braking system is the most important safety feature of your vehicle. If it isn’t functioning properly, you may not be able to stop your car in time to prevent a collision. Therefore, it’s essential that you have your brakes inspected and serviced on a regular basis. Besides replacing your brake pads, you also have to make sure your brake rotors are always in good condition. So, how do you know if your rotors need to be repaired or replaced? Let’s find out in this helpful guide.

How Do Brake Rotors Work?

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In a disc-brake system, brake rotors are circular metal discs attached to the front wheels or all four wheels of a vehicle. They work hand-in-hand with the brake pads to provide your car with stopping power. When you apply pressure to your brake pedal, the brake pads will be compressed against the brake rotors to produce friction. This friction helps to slow down and stop your car, but it also generates a large amount of heat. Rotors have ribs to dissipate the heat produced and direct cool air in to prevent overheating.

Depending on your vehicle, you may have blank brake rotors, drilled, or slotted rotors. Most passenger cars are fitted with blank rotors, which feature a smooth surface. High-performance cars, on the other hand, usually use drilled or slotted rotors. These rotors have drilled holes or slots that enable them to provide better ventilation and stopping performance.

Bear in mind that brake rotors designed for performance cars or pickup trucks probably won’t work on your family sedan. To ensure you’ll choose the right rotors for your vehicle, it’s recommended that you go to a factory-certified service center for brake rotor replacements.

How Often Should You Replace Your Brake Rotors?

According to experts, the recommended interval for changing your brake rotors can range from 30,000 to 70,000 miles. This depends on an array of factors, including your vehicle, driving habits, and driving environment. If you drive in a more spirited manner, live in a traffic-congested or hilly area, or need to transport heavy loads, you’ll likely have to get new rotors more often, probably every 30,000 or 40,000 miles. Under normal circumstances, brake rotors last 50,000 miles or more.

What Are the Signs You Need New Brake Rotors?

Certain circumstances can cause the brake rotors of your vehicle to wear out faster than expected. Instead of waiting for them to fail, you should keep an eye out for any strange behavior that may suggest it’s time to replace them. When your rotors are in bad shape, they typically display one or more of the following four symptoms:

Noisy Brakes

Noisy brakes are one of the most common signs indicating that your brake rotors are due for replacement. If your rotors are faulty, they may produce a squeaking, squealing, or grinding sound when you apply the brakes. Warped rotors usually emit a high-pitched squeak, while severely worn rotors tend to make a scraping noise. However, a squeaking sound can also mean that your brake pads are so worn down that their sensors have come into contact with the rotors.

Excessive Vibration

Excessive vibration coming from your brakes is another symptom of bad brake rotors. Overly worn or warped rotors may vibrate irregularly, which can cause the brake pedal, steering wheel, or seats to shake. Also, if your rotors are warped, you may experience a wobbly or pulsating brake pedal. This happens because the brake pads aren’t making proper contact with the surfaces of the rotors.

Increased Stopping Distance

Grooves and score marks will develop on your brake rotors as a result of normal wear and tear. Nonetheless, as they become deeper over time, they can reduce the stopping power of your vehicle. Consequently, your car may need a longer distance to come to a stop, which can make driving more unpredictable and riskier.

In more severe cases, grooves and scores can prevent the brake pedal from interacting properly with the rotors, leading to vibrations that make it feel like you won’t be able to stop your vehicle. This can be very dangerous when you’re trying to do an emergency stop.

Blue Rotors

If your vehicle has large wheels with fewer spokes, you can probably see your brake rotors without removing your tires. Check your rotors to see if they have a blue tint, which is a sign of excessive heat. This usually results from the habit of keeping your brakes engaged continuously when stopping your vehicle. It’s a common problem among drivers who have to routinely navigate hilly terrain.

Replace Your Brake Rotors at Ike Honda

If you’re a Honda owner living in Marion or another part of southern Illinois, take your vehicle to Ike Honda whenever you need a brake rotor replacement. Our dealership boasts a Honda-certified service center equipped with cutting-edge machines and tools for servicing and repairing all kinds of braking systems. Therefore, we’re able to diagnose and fix any brake rotor problems with utmost precision and efficiency, including excessively worn, warped, or damaged rotors.

We also have a team of factory-certified technicians who know the brakes of every Honda model inside out, so you can expect them to do a great job on your car. Additionally, they possess extensive knowledge of the warranty requirements of Honda vehicles. As such, they’ll unfailingly follow the manufacturer’s recommended procedures for repairing or replacing your brakes to ensure your warranty stays intact. You may not get the same peace of mind if you go to a third-party auto repair shop.

When it comes to replacing brake rotors, our service center uses only genuine OEM parts that perfectly match the specifications of your specific Honda model. This ensures your vehicle will be able to deliver optimal braking performance and a safe and confident driving experience. Also, we frequently offer special discounts on brake services and parts to help you save money.

Come to Ike Honda for the best deals on top-quality brake rotor replacements in Marion. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.