Brake Pads vs Rotors
Your vehicle’s braking system is engineered with many moving parts, all working together to provide the stopping power you need on the roads of Rockland, Hingham, and Marshfield, Massachusetts. To ensure they stay safe and work properly, routine maintenance is vital. However, the first step is knowing what you’re maintaining.
Two main aspects you should know about are brake pads and brake rotors—but what are they, and how are they different? The team at BMW of Rockland has created this brake pads vs. rotors guide, giving you the lowdown on these crucial components.
What Are Brake Rotors?
Most vehicles include a braking system that uses discs; these are the rotors. These circular components move alongside your car’s wheels, and when you press down on the brake pedal, it’s the rotors that help the wheels come to a halt.
Brake rotors are made to be incredibly strong and able to withstand tons of pressure. However, there are a lot of components that can cause them to wear down and not work as properly. Over time, heat can cause glazing that could make them warp, while driving habits like frequent stop-and-go traffic and hard braking cause them to wear down. Wet environments can even cause them to rust.
This is why frequently inspecting your brakes and replacing your rotors every 50,000 to 70,000 miles is essential.
What Are Brake Pads?
Brake pads are found in every vehicle’s braking system, and like the rotors, they’re essential to stopping your vehicle. Brake pads work with the rotors, causing friction that gives the rotors enough power to stop the wheels.
Brake pads can be made of many different materials, such as ceramic and metallic substances like iron and copper. They’re also equipped with a metal wear indicator that’ll let you know when the brake pads wear down and need to be changed.
While changing your vehicle’s brake pads every 25,000 to 65,000 miles is recommended, other factors could result in them wearing down quicker. This includes stop-and-go traffic, often applying the brakes very suddenly, and rust.
How Brake Pads and Brake Rotors Work Together
Brake pads and rotors work together to cause enough friction to stop your vehicle’s wheels. Every time you press down on the brake pedal, brake fluid flows through the hoses, eventually engaging the brake pads.
The brake pads then apply that pressure to the rotors, which connect with the wheels. Then, when you release your foot from the pedal, the whole thing happens in reverse. In order to stop your vehicle when you need to, you need correctly working pads and rotors.
Schedule Brake Maintenance at BMW of Rockland
To keep your brake pads and rotors working as they should, having professional inspections and maintenance performed as needed is important. Luckily, our service center’s certified technicians can handle it all for you.
Drivers in Rockland, Hingham, and Marshfield, MA, can schedule an appointment using our online portal today. See you in the bays soon!
