It isn’t pleasing when you press the brake pedal to stop at the stoplight then your brakes squeal. Driving on worn-out brake pads can be annoying and damage other parts of the braking system apart from raising everyone’s attention. When you drive your truck with worn-out brakes, here are the things that are likely to happen. 

Your Tires Will Wear Down

Driving a truck with worn-out brakes can wear out your tires very fast. When the brake rotors, pads, or calipers are worn out, you will slam the brake pedal more often for your truck to slow down or stop.

Regular slamming of the brake pedal and faulty brakes facilitate the rate at which the tires wear out. Apart from the increase in the rate of tire wear out, you will also experience uneven tire wear due to unbalanced tires. Taking care of your brakes should be a priority if you want to give your tires a long lifespan. 

Your Truck Will Vibrate When Braking

Your truck will slow down smoothly when your braking system works perfectly. But if the brake pads are worn out, or the rotor is damaged, you will feel vibrations when you press the brake pedal. If your truck shakes or the steering wheel vibrates when you press the brake pedal and stops when you release the brake pedal, is an indication that you should service your braking system. 

Brake Calipers and Rotors Can Be Damaged

The braking system is connected and comprises moving parts, and if a component is faulty or damaged, the damage can easily be transmitted to other parts. For instance, if your brake pads are completely worn out, chances are high of damaging the brake rotors the more you ignore them.  

Brake pads have a metallic layer that, if it is worn out, this metal will rub against the rotors leading to the production of a grinding sound whenever you press the brakes. The metal-to-metal contact leads to the generation of heat that can warp and crack the rotor. Even though the brake rotors last longer than the brake pads, failure to replace your brake pads in time can lead to damage to the rotors. 

To give your brake a long lifespan, consider changing your brake pads before they wear out, check the entire braking, and repair any damages.

Your Brakes will Have a Slow Response Time

As your brakes wear out, their efficiency reduces, making it difficult to stop your truck effectively. Pay attention to response time to determine how much your brakes are worn out. When driving with worn brakes, you must push the brake pedal harder for your truck to stop.

Driving on worn-out brakes can lead to the truck side slipping, pulling towards one side. Side slipping can result from the brake pads not engaging and disengaging the rotor as they should.

Conclusion

You can drive with the worn-out brake pads, but you shouldn’t, especially when they are excessively worn out. Changing the brake pads at the right time and checking the entire braking system keeps the system in perfect working condition, gives you the best driving experience, and improves road safety.

A brake rotor is a part of the disc brake which the pads press against to stop your truck. The rotor is made of heavy materials, making it more durable than brake pads. However, the rotors also get damaged, usually when driving with worn-out brake pads. Here are the 7 symptoms of a bad brake rotor worth knowing. 

Signs Of a Bad Brake Rotor

Here are some of the things that one can use to determine if they have a bad brake rotor in their truck.

Steering Wheel Vibrations

Whenever you press the brake pedal, the brake pads will press against the rotor, which has a smooth and flat surface, slowing down your truck smoothly. Heat is generated when braking that can warp or bend the brake rotor. If you have a bad brake rotor, your steering wheel will vibrate whenever you press the brake pedal.

Increased Stopping Distance

A longer stopping distance is another vivid sign that your truck has a faulty brake rotor. Truck drivers with experience will feel this by how the braking system performs as they drive. For instance, the truck cannot stop within an acceptable distance.

Wobbling

Wobbling is a sign of spoilt bearing and wheel runout. It usually occurs when driving at a certain speed and can lead to uneven brake pad wear or a bad brake rotor in the truck. Wheel runout should be treated seriously, as it can interfere with your brakes’ performance and the brake rotor’s general functioning. 

Bad Smell

The feeling of a nasty chemical smell results from overheating brakes or the calipers not functioning correctly, leading to brake failure. When the calipers are faulty, they stress the brake rotor, which can warp. When this happens, you will witness smoke from the affected wheel and a foul smell.

Corrosion

During winter, it is normal for rust to form on the surface of the brake rotors due to the accumulation of moisture, especially if your truck spends most of the time outside. But when rust appears on the rotors of a truck that is well-maintained and spends the warm nights in the garage. When rust starts to form on the outer surface of your rotors, consider replacing them as soon as possible.

Blue Marks

When the blue marks appear on the surface of your brake rotors is an indication of the presence of cracks on the surface of the rotor, faulty caliper, and uneven wear on the brake pads. The blue color results from the heat generated and pressure when you apply brakes. Consider inspecting your brake rotors as soon as you note the blue color on their surface.

Deep Grooves/ Score Marks

The presence of deep groves and marks on the brake rotors is a clear indication that your rotor is faulty. A healthy rotor has a smooth surface on the touch and to the eyes. The smooth rotor surface ensures uniform contact with the brake pads, which ensures the pads wear out uniformly. Grooves on the rotor are a sign that you need a new rotor. 

Conclusion

You can easily spot a bad brake rotor depending on the type of rims on your truck. You can inspect your rotors without removing the wheel if it is alloy. If you note any of the above signs, consider inspecting your rotors and replace if necessary.