PENN TWP — Thanks to brakes, there has been no slowdown in business for mechanics.

Walt Dawson, owner of Dinnerbell Garage on Dinnerbell Road off Route 8, said while all manner of vehicle repair is ongoing in his big red buildings, brakes drum up a good part of his business.

Dawson said that a lot happens between the time a driver pushes the brake pedal and he feels the comforting sensation of slowing down.

Once the pedal is pushed, a rod is pressed into the master cylinder, which creates hydraulic pressure. The fluid in the cylinder pushes out a piston in the brakes' caliper or wheel cylinder, which forces the brake pad against the rotor or drum.

“That creates the stopping action,” Dawson said.

Surprisingly, out of all the components involved in that process, brake pads or rotors are normally the culprit when a car or truck wobbles into Dawson's garage with a brake issue.

Motorists who complain of a pulsating sensation when they hit the brakes are normally the victims of warped rotors.

Dawson said two types of drivers normally have warped rotors: those who “go like hell and stop on a dime,” or overcautious drivers who keep one foot on the brake pedal and one on the gas pedal.

Dawson said he also sees lots of rusty rotors, which can chew up the brake pad and create the need for replacement of both.

Dawson blames many brake problems on the thin rotors made from inferior metal in vehicles of the past few decades. He said in days gone by, the thick metal rotors could be ground down to reaccommodate pads or to grind off rust.

Thin rotors today easily warp and rust and cannot usually be saved once they develop a problem.

“If you drive your vehicle in the rain and it sits for two or three days, your rotors can develop surface rust,” Dawson said.

The state Department of Transportation's past decision to move from biannual to annual vehicle inspections, Dawson said, eliminates preventive measures in saving brakes.

Before, mechanics noticing small issues with brakes could repair them. With inspections now, most brake issues mean replacement of pads and/or rotors by the time annual inspection rolls around.

Also, Dawson said many motorists today drive 25,000 to 30,000 miles a year compared to an average of 10,000 miles per year in the past.

“That's a lot wear and tear on the brakes,” Dawson said.

Aimee Thompson, manager at Classic Automotive on Route 228 in Adams Township, said brake issues that roll into her garage are normally for wear and tear.

She explained that brake pads are precisely measured in 32nds for state inspection, and once pads wear down to a measurement of 2/32nds, inspection mechanics must fail them.

She said many motorists whose brakes are deemed insufficient choose to replace them at home and return for the sticker.

Most home-repair jobs easily pass.

“If they take on the challenge, they're usually capable of it,” Thompson said.

Dawson also explained that as the gross weight of a vehicle increases, so do the size of the brake pads. If a customer complains of going through brakes too quickly, it usually means they are overloading their vehicle.

“That causes more friction and more heat, and you're going to get more brake wear,” Dawson said.

He also cautioned against falling for ads for ridiculously low prices on brakes because consumers will get what they pay for.

“We know what works, and that's what we stick with,” Dawson said.

“If you use a junk product and wreck and someone gets hurt, you're in trouble.”

Dawson also recommends drivers use their emergency brakes when they park, even in cars with an automatic transmission. He said his mechanics must frequently replace emergency brakes during inspections because the cable freezes when the mechanic engages it for the required test.

“For a state inspection, that emergency brake has to work,” said

Dawson's garage inspects a minimum of 1,700 vehicles each year.

The longtime mechanic said brakes have evolved over the years, moving from the old drum brakes to front disc, then to four ABS brakes on most cars and trucks.

“For SUVs and trucks, the four-wheel disc brakes are much more effective,” he said.