My tires are grinding, what does it mean? When it’s time to change your rotors

If you drive it enough, you’ll find out that every car has its little quirks. Maybe the windows roll up slowly or only halfway. Maybe your headlights will only come on when the radio is on. Every car has its little peculiarities. Some of these oddities make the leap from weird to flat out dangerous if not corrected. Your brake rotors are the only thing your brakes have to grab onto to slow you down, so they should be taken seriously

Anything to do with your brakes is definitely something that should be a major concern. Your car’s ability to stop itself is probably the most important function is has other than being able to move in the first place, so here are a few signs to help you recognize when it may be time to change your rotors.

Vibrating Steering Wheel

Normal braking generates heat, and lots of it, then as you drive the airflow around the rotor causes the hot metal to rapidly cool. This leads to natural warping. When this happens your steering wheel and sometimes even brake pedal will vibrate because the rigid brake pads are trying to follow the warped rotor.

Squealing and Grinding

This is probably the most telling warning sign, because not only will you be able to hear it, but so will everyone else on the road around you. When your rotors are warped, the metal from your brake pads and calipers makes contact with the metal on the rotors causing a quite unpleasant screech. Once things get bad enough you’ll notice bad grinding noise every time you hit your brakes.

Blue Coloring

Once enough heat and pressure have been applied to your brake rotors, they’ll start to turn a lovely blue color. Even if it’s your favorite color, this blue should look like a red stop sign to you. After that much heat, pressure, and wear have been put on your rotors it’s seriously time to get new ones.

Your brakes and rotors are one of the most important systems in your car. If you’re not sure what to do, call Thompson Toyota’s Service Center and schedule an appointment today!