Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Cheap Brake Parts Can Be Deadly

Thursday, January 21, 2010

There is little doubt that the nation’s economic picture has left many families hurting: Unemployment numbers are up so high that millions of Americans have simply quit looking for work, and new reports indicate that consumers are trying to save money by skimping on automotive repairs. They are either installing poor-quality parts or failing to have needed work done altogether, or even more troubling, they’re cutting costs when it comes to their brake repairs.

But installing poor-quality imported brake rotors can be a recipe for disaster. So if you’re going to save money in these tough economic times, don’t do it by cheapening out on your brakes. A leading brake component manufacturer has recently discovered a serious brake safety concern regarding the use of imported brake rotors that are significantly different from the original equipment rotors they replace. Those differences can be deadly.

According to Affinia Global Brake & Chassis, the maker of Raybestos brake parts, the replacement rotors deviate widely in thickness, air gaps and vane configurations. Because the variances result in a significant reduction in the effective thermal mass of the rotors, they run hotter, and often the brake systems cannot absorb and dissipate that heat properly. That causes cracks in the rotor, and these cracks lead to longer stopping distances and potential wheel lockup. The excess heat is also transferred to the brake pads, caliper pistons and brake fluid, and it can cause premature wear of these components. Ultimately, left unrepaired, these thermal stresses lead to brake system failures. If you have had a brake rotor replacement in the last year, you should return to the service repair facility and request a brake system inspection to ensure that your brakes can do the job you need them to do.

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