Stay Safe Behind the Wheel

Brake Rotors 101: What You Need to Know

If you drive like most Americans on the road, you’ll use your brakes about 200 times daily. If even one component of your car’s braking system isn’t working up to speed, your vehicle will lose its stopping power. This can increase your risk of an auto accident.

The brake rotors are a crucial element of your braking system. But what do they do, and how can you tell if yours are worn out?

The brake repair specialists at Pro-Tec Auto Repair in College Station, Texas, are here to tell you more.

What Are Brake Rotors?

Rotors are circular discs that are attached to each of your car’s four wheels. They turn kinetic energy, or motion, into thermal energy or heat. When you apply pressure to your brake pedal, the brake calipers will squeeze the brake pads against the large surface of the rotors. This creates the necessary friction to bring your car to a halt efficiently.

What Caused My Rotor to Crack?

As with any other vehicle part, your brake rotors are susceptible to damage. However, rotors won’t break because you hit a pothole or run over a curb. Surprisingly, most brake rotors crack because of stress caused by fluctuating temperatures. When you apply pressure to your brake pedal, the rotors will heat up and expand. After the calipers are released, they’ll cool back down again. This can cause stress in the brake rotors, eventually causing them to crack.

Do I Need New Rotors?

Most brake rotors will last between 30,000 and 80,000 miles. However, you may need to replace yours sooner if you notice:

Shaking or pulsating while braking
Grinding noises while stopping
Decreased braking efficiency
Visibly thinned or rusted rotors

If your car is experiencing any of these symptoms, call the vehicle brake repair experts at Pro-Tec Auto Repair today.

Superior Brake Repair Services

Do you need new rotors? Today, call the brake repair specialists at Pro-Tec Auto Repair in College Station, Texas. Our service includes brake repair, maintenance, inspection, and parts replacement.

To schedule your auto repair appointment, call 979-977-1912 today.

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Shocks or Struts Worn Out?

February 8, 2023

Your Complete Guide to Shocks and Struts Shocks and struts are two of the most important components of your vehicle’s suspension system. They help to stabilize your car’s movements, enhancing your control when turning, accelerating, or braking. Shocks and struts are also important for emergency handling, accident avoidance, and efficient braking. If your car has suspension issues, it’s important to find out if something is wrong with its shocks or struts. Call the suspension repair specialists at Pro-Tec Auto Repair in College Station, Texas, to inspect your car immediately. What Do Shocks and Struts Do? The shocks are hydraulic parts that minimize the movements of your car’s springs. They efficiently absorb the impact of potholes or rough roads. Even if you hit a bump in the road, the shocks ensure your ride is always comfortable. The struts are structural components of certain cars’ suspension and steering systems. They are made up of shock absorbers and springs. Struts are much sturdier than shocks, as they are weight-bearing parts. Struts also absorb jolts to enhance your car’s alignment and steering. Do I Need New Shocks or Struts? It’s important to take great care of your car’s suspension system. This includes replacing or repairing its shocks and struts. Some signs that these components are worn out include: Feelings of excessive force while steering Car “tipping” to one side when you turn Tires excessively bouncing Unusual or uneven tire wear Fluid leaking on the exterior of the struts or shocks The front end of your car dives when you brake hard. Call the ASE-certified mechanics at Pro-Tec Auto Repair today if your vehicle shows any of these signs. College Station’s Go-To Suspension Repair Experts You should be replacing your shocks and struts every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. However, if you need to replace yours sooner, call the suspension repair specialists at Pro-Tec Auto Repair in College Station, Texas. Our customers trust their cars to our certified mechanics. That’s because we offer superior automotive repair services and prompt turnaround times. Call us today at 979-977-1912 to schedule your auto repair appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Does Your Vehicle Need a Wheel Alignment?

February 21, 2019

What You Need to Look For Proper wheel alignment is essential for a comfortable and pleasurable driving experience. It allows the wheels of your vehicle to meet the road at a proper angle and helps them work in unison, instead of against each other. If your vehicle falls out of alignment, it needs a wheel alignment service to get back on track. But despite the name, the service doesn’t actually focus on the wheels of the vehicle. Instead, the focus falls on the suspension system and three specific angles within the system -- camber, toe, and caster. This service keeps your vehicle in proper alignment, especially after it hits a pothole or curb. Say you do hit a pothole or curb, how will you know if your vehicle is misaligned? There aren’t any external signs, so that means you don’t need a service, right? Well, not exactly. Although the external signs of misalignment are limited, there are a handful of other warning signals that’ll inform you when your vehicle needs realignment. Here are three signs that your vehicle is in need of a wheel alignment service! Uneven Tire Wear When searching for signs of misalignment, make sure to check your vehicle’s tire wear! Uneven tire wear is a telltale sign of wheel misalignment and it’s much easier to notice than other signs. When checking the tires, you want to make sure that the front and back set of tires have matching wear patterns. If you notice that the front set of tires has different wear pattern than the back set, then that’s your sign you need a re-alignment. Vibrations The next sign of wheel misalignment is a vibrating steering wheel. When this happens, it’s because the misaligned wheels are pulling in different directions and working against each other. A vibrating steering wheel can also be a result of an unbalanced tire, so make sure you visit us so we can properly determine the cause. Pulling The last sign of wheel misalignment that you need to be aware of is when your vehicle pulls towards a specific direction. At no point should you fight the steering wheel to keep your vehicle going straight. If so, that's a sign that you need a re-alignment service. Along with that, the steering wheel may not be in a neutral position, which can be dangerous to deal with. This can also be caused by an underinflated tire, so make sure you check in with our team for this problem as well! If you notice these issues, don’t continue to drive and make the problem worse. Instead, make sure you visit Pro-Tec Auto Repair in College Station, Texas. We have the alignment equipment available to ensure you’re always working with your vehicle, instead of against it.