Common Winter Brake Issues Due to Salt. What happens.

Ingredients for a common winter time auto repair recipe: brake pads, brake rotors, more salt, more corrosion and more rust. The ending result, brake pulsation and premature brake failure. If you asked, "why are my brakes pulsating?" or maybe asked google, "why are my brakes pulsating?" then let our expert mechanics answer that for you. In winter driving conditions where excessive salting is common, brake pads commonly rust into place in their sliding brackets. As a result, the brake pads do not wear evenly. Sometimes half the pad contacts, a little bit contacts, sometimes not at all (such as the pictured brake rotor). Due to the minimized surface area of the brake pad actually working to stop the vehicle is now working harder, it creates extra heat. Too much heat distorts the brake rotor leading to pulsation. Sometimes the brake rotor rusts up into the area that the brake pad is riding on causing a pulsation from riding on an uneven surface. New York State Inspection requirements require at least 50% of the brake rotor making contact with the brake pad. However, the brake rotors are not allowing to pulsate for inspection and have tolerances that need to be met. The proper ending repair in our climate is replacement of the brake pads and rotors. If you have questions about brakes, calipers, pads and rotors, then give us a call. ​