Who would not want a great performing car? With the recent hype in car upgrades, more and more car owners are now upgrading their cars to make it go faster, handle better and look better. When it comes to performance upgrades, the braking system is often ignored. This should not be the case, because this group of car components has an indispensable role of keeping you safe and protected on the road by providing you with safe and repeatable stopping. No matter what vehicle type you have, the concept behind the braking system is universal. The braking system installed in your Pontiac vehicle uses friction in order to slow down or stop your car. It does this through leverage or mechanical advantage and through hydraulic force multiplication. However, the entire system would not be able to perform its collective function if one or more of its sub components are not in good working condition. For this reason, you need to be aware of the various parts and their proper maintenance to ensure a longer service life.
One of the fundamental components of your braking system is the Pontiac brake rotor. This car component looks like a round metal disc and can be seen clamped by a caliper that holds 2 friction linings or brake pads. They are usually made up of basic gray crummy cast iron. To eliminate those porosities that lead to cracking, most brake rotors are vacuum degassed. A typical Pontiac brake rotor has an average roughness of 30 to 60 micro inches. Moreover, the depth of the finish must be .002 to .008 inch to ensure a smooth and high performing brake rotor. There are different types of brake rotors: the scraper slots, drilled rotors and vented rotors. Scraper slots reduce the stopping distance because they dissipate heat. Aside from that, they shed water under wet driving conditions and they effectively throw the debris and dust away from the wheels. Drilled rotors undergo blind degassing to dissipate heat and ensure maximum braking performance in any condition. Vented rotors absorb thermal energy through the vent path. That way, the heat resulting from the braking system is channeled through the moving air stream.
It is a general maintenance procedure to replace or turn the brake rotors each time the brake pads are replaced. This would allow your brake rotors to have an equal distribution of pressure and friction. Some of the basic maintenance procedures that you can employ to prolong the service life of your include heat cycling them very gently, keeping them cool, and working on your braking technique. By coming on your brakes progressively, smoothly and slowly, you can be sure that your Pontiac brake rotor would be spared from getting damaged earlier. You may be hearing some squealing noises when you step on the brakes. This is particularly normal, because the rotor and the brake pads are made up of metal. However, you may want to check your Pontiac brake rotor for wear and tear if you have been hearing brake noises other than a squeal. So when you have been noticing those wear and tear signs, you better replace your worn out Pontiac brake rotor to prevent brake related accidents.
