How Worn Out Car Parts Can Lead To Accidents

The fact that your car hasn't broken down doesn't mean it's in a good condition. Therefore, don't be one of those people who only take their car to service shops when parts of their cars get damaged and need fixing or replacement. Regular wear and tear affects all cars, and worn out parts can even lead to accidents. Apart from the obvious case of the tire, some of the car parts that you should never used if worn out include:

Worn brake pad

Brake pads are parts of the brake system that provide contact and pressure to the brake rotors. The pressure is transferred to the rotors provides friction that slows down the wheels. If the brake pads are worn, they won't provide adequate pressure and friction, and your car's braking power will decrease. This will increase your braking distance, your chances of skidding or even brake failure. All those can easily lead to an accident, for example, when you try to brake to avoid hitting a car that suddenly stops in front of you, and fail.

Signs of brake pad wear include:

  • Reduced brake pad dust – This happens when the brake pads have been worn down to their metal backing.
  • Screeching metallic noise when braking.
  • A grinding feeling when pushing the brake pedal.
  • Vibrations when braking

Worn Lug Nuts

Lug nuts are round nuts used to secure the wheel of the car to the axle. Over time, normal wear and tear of the threads of the lug nuts causes them to loosen. Many people solve this problem by tightening the nuts further. Unfortunately, this may only work in the short-term. After some time, the nuts may not fit anymore, and the wheels will begin to wobble. A lug nut may also loosen and fall off, which also leads to a wobbling wheel.

Worn Steering Linkage

The steering linkage connects the steering system to the front wheels. When the tie rods at the end of the linkage wear down, they also loosen and cause the steering to play; this is a dangerous condition. For example, your car may start to wander even when steering in a straight direction, which can lead to collisions with cars in adjacent lanes. If you don't correct the situation soon enough, the wear can increase to the point where the linkage disengages and you lose control of the car.

For more information, contact Tom's Husker Automotive Inc or a similar company.


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