Drive Belts

What is this?

Tiny cracks in a serpentine belt aren't necessarily bad, but the deep ones here mean it's running out of time. Because this belt was removed to replace an alternator, the mechanic replaced it with a new one to save trouble down the road.

This is the inspection or replacement of the belt(s) in your engine compartment.

Every car has a water pump, a power-steering pump and various accessories — all of which are powered by rubber drive belts. On older cars, each of these components is driven by its own belt. On most modern cars, all of these components are driven by one belt, called a serpentine belt.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

Definitely.

Why do I have to do this?

Belts in your car don't last forever. They wear out from use and eventually crack and decay from ozone that's in the air.

What happens if I don't do this?

If your car has individual belts and one of them breaks, then you'll lose the function of whatever part that belt was powering, such as the alternator, power-steering pump or water pump. If the serpentine belt breaks, all of these parts will stop functioning. Engine damage may result from overheating.

Brakes

What is it?

Brake pads, linings and rotors are parts of your car's brake system and are housed next to each of the wheels. They push against one another to create friction, which stops the car.

The disc brake caliper (1) squeezes brake pads (2) against either side of the rotor (3). The rotor is part of the hub (4), to which the wheel attaches.

There are two kinds of brake systems: disc brakes and drum brakes. Disc brakes are the most common system in use today, and they're very much like the hand brakes on a bicycle. When you step on your car's brake pedal, the brake pads squeeze a spinning disc rotor that's attached to the wheel. The resulting friction, when applied to each of the wheels, slows the car.

The second type, drum brakes, involve brake shoes that push out against a spinning brake drum, which is attached to the wheel. This friction slows the car.

Both systems work by creating friction, so brake parts are expected to wear out. The questions then are, how worn out are they? And are they worn out enough that they need to be replaced?

That's what this service is all about checking these components for wear and other potential problems.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

Absolutely.

Why do I have to do this?

In short, you do this service so you don't crash into a cabbage truck.

What happens if I don't do this?

If you neglect your brake pads and shoes, your brakes will ultimately fail. Even before that happens, however, you can cause damage to other, more expensive brake parts, such as rotors, drums and calipers. In other words: a stitch in time ... saves you from helping your mechanic with a boat payment later on.