When Do You Need To Change Your Brakes?

Experienced car owners understand that correctly working brakes are important for driving safety.  It’s often tempting to postpone replacing parts as long as possible because of tight budgets.  Though, the complex hydraulic mechanisms and multiple parts in the braking system are continuously working as you drive and will want to be replaced fairly regularly. The sorry truth is, delaying a need brake repair often means a costly brake replacement will more than likely become compulsory.  Worse yet, a serious accident could occur because of failing brakes.

Here are several brake maintenance tips that can help prevent a premature and expensive brake replacement:

• Schedule Regular Brake Service -- Brake maintenance includes installing new brake pads, reappearing rotors, or replacing dirty brake fluid. Remember to find a qualified brake repair specialist and use parts specifically designed to fit your vehicle's braking system. 
• Use High-Quality Parts -- It is smart to use high-quality replacements for brake pads and rotors. Although they cost a little more, they will last you longer and be more effective.
• Practice Good Driving Habits -- By simply slowing down earlier, avoiding abrupt stops, and not riding the brake pedal, these simple and cheap methods will help increase the performance and long life of your brakes.
• Rebuilt vs. brand-new calipers -- It may be possible to use rebuilt calipers rather than brand new ones.  Many car drivers don’t know that rebuilt calipers are half the cost of new ones and there is no recognizable difference in braking performance. 

Remember:  Keep your brakes in good condition before your safety is compromised.  Spending a few dollars upfront on brake service will save you money in brake repairs!

Are you wondering when do you need to change your brakes?  Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive to make an appointment and to find out more about brake repair service.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served car owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

How do you know if your brakes are going out?

If you’re wondering how do you know if your brakes are going out, more than likely you are starting to notice braking issues.  Because there is not a set schedule as to when to replace brakes, frequent inspections are a necessity.  As a conscientious vehicle owner, have your brakes checked at every tire rotation service, which is usually about every 6 months (or every other oil change service).  

How long your brakes last actually depends upon several factors, including:

• Driving conditions – Do you drive a lot of stop-and-go miles (such as in the city), or mountainous terrain with steep declines, or a straight and level highway?
• Vehicle weight – How many passengers do you usually carry in your car as well as how much extra cargo is loaded into the trunk?
• Brake materials – Do you use higher quality brake pads and rotors, or do you go with the cheapest you can find?
• Purpose of vehicle – Do you tow a trailer, boat or other recreational vehicle, or do you just drive to work and shopping?

So how do you know if brake repair is needed?  What you hear from your brakes will usually let you know if your brakes are going bad.  Listen for squeaking, squealing, or metal-on-metal grinding when you step on the brake pedal.  Some cars have built-in wear sensors that scrape against a brake disc when the pads needed replacing, or a dash warning light that illuminates when the brake pads reach the minimum thickness or the brake fluid is too low.  An easy brake repair to clean the brakes can eliminate some minor noises, but persistent, prominent noises typically mean parts are worn out.

Tip to Remember: A visual inspection by your auto mechanic is the best way to determine the amount of life left in your brakes, such as the thickness of the pads, and the condition of the rotors and calipers!.

Do you want to know how do you know if your brakes are going out? Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive to make an appointment and to find out more about brake repair.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

How do you know when your Brakes are going bad?

Wondering how do you know when your brakes are going bad?  One sure sign is if it is taking you lengthier to come to a stop at red lights and stop signs.  If this is happening, it is definitely time to schedule a brake service for a checkup of the braking components.  

There is no stated schedule in your owner’s manual as to when brakes should be replaced.  It will depend on how your brakes are draining, which is largely determined by your driving style and conditions.  

So how do you know when your brakes are going bad? Here are six of the obvious signs that you should be aware of:

• Noisy brakes – A screeching sound is created when the built-in wear sensors scrape against the brake disc when the pads need replacing.  Metal-on-metal grinding is also a sign that the brake pads are entirely worn down. 
• Vibrating – A warped disc will cause the brake pedal to pulsate under light or moderate braking.
• Leaking brake fluid – A burning smell while driving could mean brake fluid is leaking onto the hot motor.
• Longer stopping distances – If you are pushing the brake pedal down to the floor to stop your car, it means it is taking a long distance to come to a stop. Because brake linings wear gradually, it could reach the hazardous stage before you notice it.
• Steering issues -- If the steering wheel tugs or the car pulls to one side or the other while braking, the front brake pads are worn down too far.
• Dash Warning light – Some cars have electronic wear indicators that alert the driver if the pads wear down to a specified measurement.  But a visual checkup during a brake service is the still the best way to check the condition of your brakes.

Tip to remember:  Many vehicle owners will ask for a brake inspection at every tire rotation service (about every six months).

Wondering how do you know when your brakes are going bad?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive to make an appointment and to find out more about brake service.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

How does a Simple Wheel Alignment Prevent Accidents?

By nature, driving out on the public roads is a risk of itself. However, the odds of avoiding costly and sometimes life- threatening accidents can be as simple as having a car alignment service. Often neglected in a regular auto maintenance routine, a wheel alignment is cheap insurance when it comes to ensuring a safe daily commute.

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A wheel alignment is preventative maintenance that encompasses a car's complex and delicate suspension system, making sure that everything is precisely adjusted and also checking that individual components are within factory wear limits . As the miles and years add up on the various suspension components on a vehicle, wear such as cracked, dry rotted rubber seals and loose ball joints can occur. This wear ultimately adds up and contributes to more serious issues such as a car that sways while driving, steering wheel vibration, or even compromised braking. It's common knowledge that braking ability is the single-most important safety feature on an automobile. Don't risk an accident by allowing the camber of a vehicle's wheels to limit the amount of tire tread that contacts the road and increasing the distance it takes for the car to come to a stop.

The easiest way to maintain your safety and preserve the equipment that separates you and the road is to get regularly scheduled car alignments. Waiting for a decline in the vehicle's steering and braking performance is risking a potential accident. An alignment inspection should be in order every time a large pothole is hit on a highway or hitting a curb. It is very good practice, and recommended, to get a reputable technician to inspect the status of a vehicle's alignment during every other oil change.

Having wheel alignment problems? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car alignment service. Rum River also offers quality auto repair and auto detailing services. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.

Exhaust System What’s In Your Muffler?

Your vehicle's exhaust system is generally a silent partner working behind the scenes, but vital for the operating efficiency of your vehicle. The main job of the exhaust system is to release the toxic gas by-products of internal combustion. Unfortunately, the exhaust system goes unnoticed until a driver hears strange noises and smells strange odors coming from the muffler. By this time, damage has already occurred that will require a repair service.

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In addition to the normal aging process of the exhaust system, there are two common causes of damage to the muffler and exhaust system:

• Road conditions: Because the muffler is mounted on the underside of your car, it is exposed to damaging road conditions (especially salted or sanded roads in the winter). Have the exhaust system inspected frequently for leaks, especially if the muffler is starting to get noisy! A leak in the exhaust system not only creates a noisy muffler, but decreases fuel efficiency. Even more harmful are the fumes, such as carbon monoxide, that can potentially enter the cabin of your car. It doesn't take much to impair your driving and your health.

• Driving short distances: When driving short distances, such as your daily commute to work or school, the water vapor produced by the catalytic convertor doesn't have enough time to fully evaporate or get expelled. It condenses back into water, which can cause rust in the muffler. Another by-product of engine emissions is sulfur. As it mixes with the water, it creates a corrosive acid that will eat away at the muffler. However, modern cars are equipped with catalytic converters that convert the toxic exhaust into non-toxic water vapor and carbon dioxide.

A Quick Tip to Remember:  At each oil change, have the exhaust system inspected to make sure it stays in good shape! Prevent further damage to your car, and possibly your health, by taking care of problems as soon as possible.

Is your muffler emitting strange sounds and smells? You need an inspection of your exhaust system! Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive by calling (763) 389-3811, or go on-line at http://www.rumriverauto.com for more information. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca and Zimmerman, MN.