When do brake rotors need to be replaced?

Brake rotors typically need to be replaced every 50,000 to 70,000 miles, but the actual lifespan depends on several factors, including:

Signs That Brake Rotors Need Replacement:

• Vibration or Pulsation: If your steering wheel or brake pedal shakes when braking, the rotors may be warped or uneven.
• Squealing or Grinding Noise: A high-pitched squeal or grinding sound could mean the rotor surface is damaged or excessively worn.
• Visible Scoring or Grooves: Deep grooves or heat spots on the rotor surface indicate wear and overheating, reducing braking efficiency.
• Increased Stopping Distance: If your car takes longer to stop, worn rotors may be reducing brake performance.
• Thickness below Minimum Spec: Rotors have a minimum thickness. If they are too thin, they lose heat dissipation ability and must be changed.

Other Considerations:

• Driving styles: Aggressive braking wears rotors faster.
• Brake pad quality: Hard pads may wear rotors sooner.
• Environment: Frequent stop-and-go traffic or mountainous terrain can accelerate rotor wear.

Replace or Resurface?

• Resurfacing is only possible if the rotor is thick sufficient and not heavily scored or warped.
• Replacement is better for severely worn, warped, or thin rotors.

Wondering when do brake rotors need to be replaced? Call our ASE Certified Mechanics at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about brake pads and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

What happens if your axle breaks while driving?

If your car axle breaks while driving, it can result in serious and potentially risky consequences:

• Loss of Control: A broken axle will disrupt the connection between the wheels and the transmission, causing you to lose control of the vehicle. Depending on which axle breaks, it may prevent the car from moving forward or steering correctly.
• Wheel Detachment: In some cases, a broken axle can cause one of the wheels to detach or lock up, which can make it impossible to steer and significantly increase the risk of an accident.
• Grinding or Clunking Noise: Before a complete break, you may hear grinding or clunking noises as the axle becomes damaged. If the axle fully breaks, the sound may become more violent, especially if the drive shaft hits the ground.
• Vehicle Stopping Suddenly: The car might come to an abrupt stop if the axle breaks entirely, especially in front-wheel-drive vehicles. This can happen in traffic, leading to a collision.
• Tire Damage: A broken axle can cause uneven wear or damage to your tires, especially if the break leads to misalignment or other problems in the wheel assembly.

If your axle breaks while driving, it’s critical to pull over safely as soon as possible, contact roadside assistance, and have the vehicle towed to a repair shop. Continuing to drive can cause further damage to your vehicle and increase the risk of a serious accident.

What happens if your axle breaks while driving? Call our ASE Certified Mechanics at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car struts and to request an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.

When should alternator be replaced?

The alternator is an indispensable component of the auto electrical system as it charges the battery and the electrical system of the car when the engine is running. It is crucial to understand when should alternator be replaced to prevent breakdowns.

Something as simple as having a dim light or other problems in the electrical system.

• A symbol on the dashboard that looks like a battery and is generally lit up when there is an issue with the car’s battery.
• Abnormal vibrations, humming, groaning, or whining sounds coming from the vehicle’s engine compartment.
• If the battery is dead often, especially when the car’s alternator should keep it charged.

In most cases, the alternator should be replaced every 80,000 to every 100,000 miles or if these signs manifest themselves.

Diagnosing whether the alternator is at fault or the car starters resulting in starting issues may be challenging. They are mechanisms that begin the engine's operation by engaging the flywheel, and when they start to have problems, their symptoms are mimicked by those of a faulty alternator.

• Slow cranking or the engine will not start at all.
• A clicking sound, when one turns the key, could show signs of failing car starters.
• Evidently, the battery is fully charged, but the engine will still not turn up.

Measuring the battery voltage may assist in pinpointing the alternator or car starters as the root of the issue. Sometimes, even if the battery is okay, the car starters are to blame if the engine does not start.

In conclusion, when should alternators be replaced and how to differentiate between an alternator and a car starter issue is something that one must know regarding car maintenance. Maintenance of vehicles also means being able to check the vehicles frequently and being sensitive to the indications of wear so that there would not be a need for extensive fixes, which could be very costly.

Wondering how often should you get your brakes replaced? Call our ASE Certified Mechanics at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car starters and to schedule an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.