The Deer survived, but the car did not
How a family vacation was ruined because of a small oversight.
THE CULPRIT: WORN OUT BRAKE ROTORS
One Sunday morning, Bill and his family set out for a long-awaited vacation, cruising through the countryside in their trusty 1997 Chevrolet Suburban.
They were enjoying the peaceful scenery and chatting happily when suddenly, a deer dashed across the road.
Bill hit the brakes, but they didn’t respond as expected, leaving him with little time to react.
He swerved to avoid the deer, narrowly missing it, but ended up colliding with a tree instead.
It was a frightening moment, but thankfully, everyone emerged unharmed.
Though their family vacation was ruined, Bill and his family got away with just some minor damage to their car.
But the circumstances could have been much worse, had they been driving on a highway.
After inspecting why the brakes didn’t work, it was revealed that Bill’s car had less than 10 mm of Brake Rotors left.
That’s a huge red flag since the normal thickness of a new brake rotor is usually between 28 – 45 mm.
In such circumstances, a person won’t feel anything wrong with the brakes under normal braking pressure.
But when they have to apply an emergency brake, the car doesn’t stop as quickly, which explains why Bill didn’t notice before.
Brake rotors play a crucial role in your vehicle’s braking system.
Located behind each of your car’s wheels, these essential components work in tandem with brake pads to bring your vehicle to a stop safely.
Here’s how it works: When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder exerts pressure on the brake pads.
These pads then press against the brake rotors, generating friction that slows down and eventually halts the rotation of the wheels, bringing your vehicle to a stop.
However, over time and with regular use, brake rotors and pads can wear out.
The exact mileage at which this occurs can vary depending on factors like driving habits, vehicle weight, and road conditions.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended to have your brake rotors and pads inspected and potentially replaced every 80,000 miles to ensure optimal braking performance and safety on the road.
Regular maintenance and timely replacement of worn brake components can help prevent issues like decreased braking efficiency, brake fade, and even brake failure, ultimately contributing to a safer driving experience for you and your passengers.