If there’s one part of your car that you depend on most in the winter, it’s your brakes. We know your heater’s a close second — considering how cold it gets in the winter here in Iowa City IA. That said, there are some common problems you may experience with your car’s brakes in Iowa City’s cold weather. Any of these issues can represent a worrying safety and reliability issue you shouldn’t ignore.
Fortunately, the team at Iowa City Tire & Service in Iowa City IA can help. As the premier provider of brake repair in Iowa City, we offer a full range of auto repair and brake service solutions in Iowa City IA. Regardless of the issue, we will provide a fast and affordable solution. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top winter brake problems drivers in Iowa City IA may encounter. And if you’re experiencing any of these issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for the best brake repair Iowa City IA has to offer.
Worn or Cracked Brake Pads in Iowa City IA
Even if your brake pads are in good shape heading into the winter, you should never assume they’ll reach the spring that way. In the winter, you’ll put additional stress on your brake pads due to slippery road conditions. Every time you apply extra braking force to compensate, you could be overheating your brake pads. Before long, they’ll start to show signs of excessive wear, like cracks and pad tapering. Needless to say, that’s not a good thing at any time of year, especially in winter.
The first sign of a problem could be a slight loss of braking power. The moment you detect this, you’ll want to schedule an appointment for brake service in our Iowa City shop. We’ll check your brakes, make any necessary repairs, and have you back on the road before you know it.
Rusty Rotors & Brakes in Iowa City IA
A few years back, Iowa City officials made a big show of their switch from solid road salt to the use of salt brine on our roads in the winter. It sounded good at the time, but guess what? Salt brine is like road salt on steroids, as far as your car’s concerned. It can rust exposed components on your vehicle even faster than the road salt used to.
One of the most vulnerable parts of your vehicle is your car’s rotors. Road spray gets in and around your wheels in a hurry. And if your rotors aren’t in perfect condition when the winter starts, they’ll deteriorate fast in the winter. Rusty rotors can lead to a loss of stopping power or wear out your brake pads faster than they should. Your first sign of trouble will likely be a squeaky sound when you apply your brakes. If you hear that and it doesn’t go away after one or two stops, make your third stop a trip to our shop for brake repair in Iowa City.
Damaged Brake Lines Can Spell Trouble
Your car’s braking system is engineering perfection. You step on the brakes, and the system uses brake fluid to translate that into enough force to clamp the calipers down on your rotors. Your brake fluid is something of an unsung hero—like William Katt in The Greatest American Hero—that you’d never expect to do the work it does.
Your brake fluid has an extraordinarily low freezing point, so it’ll work in the winter. It also has an absurdly high boiling point, too. However, your brake lines aren’t nearly as robust. And this is your brake fluid’s Achilles heel. If your brake lines allow moisture to seep into your brake fluid, it might alter the fluid enough to allow it to freeze. A similar thing can happen if air gets into your brake lines. Either way, it’s not a problem you want to experience. So, bring your car in so we can check that its brake lines are up to the winter challenge.
