Check Car Brakes And Brake Pad Rotors

As mentioned on the home page, you must test drive every car before you buy it. In fact, there is a used car checklist of many items that should be checked.

When you take the car off of the used car lot, pay attention to small braking at low speeds. You want to feel nothing, but brake action. If you feel anything when you brake, it is cause for further brake checks. The brake pad rotors could be warped or damaged.

You also want to listen when applying your car brakes.

Do the brakes squeal or whine?

If so, it may be time for a brake job. Verify this with your certified car mechanic.

The car brake repair can be done after the sale. This is a car sales negotiation point with the used car dealer or a car for sale by owner. Price car brake repair jobs at your mechanic or Munroe or Midas and use this as a negotiating point.

Do the car brakes scrape? 

If so, the car brake pad rotors or brake rotors may already be damaged.   If it has just started, the rotors may be turned to correct.  That is the old brake pad material that is embedded in the rotor is removed.

If the brake rotors have been scraping for awhile, the entire rotor may need to be replaced.  This will cost a great deal more money than the brake job by itself.

Decision time is here.  This can be a car negotiating point or it can be a walk away.  You have to decide.  A certified brake specialist can give you more specifics.

If I was negotiating this, I would want the brake job done by the dealer or owner of the car before your purchase.  And, then I would have it verified before purchase.

Or, I would have my mechanic do the job with the stipulation the seller would pay for it.  I doubt the seller will go for this.