I didn't fix my brakes when they began to make noises! I knew it was a stupid idea. My brother is a mechanic, or was at the time. It got even worse. I didn't have the money to fix them, so I did what I always do and put it off. Then, I didn't have the time...yeah, right...How long does it take to drop off a car on the way to work before the shop even opens for business? I am a procrastinator! There, I said it! I know how stupid it was, I know...I do, but I did it. My family fussed at me, my boss gave me funny looks, and my co-workers called me an idiot and I still put it off. Not my most brilliant idea, I will admit.

When I finally took it in, this was the driving conditions:

The sound indicated the calipers were eating into the pads and shoes both...That is front and back brakes. I could hear it grinding the metal off flake by flake. It got so bad that I had to apply my breaks very early on and use gentle taps for short bursts. There is a real danger of them overheating and welding together; thereby locking up your brakes. So I was careful for way too long...procrastinating!

My mechanic chewed my butt good when I came to get the car. Of course this was after a phone conversation that consisted of: "DO you have ANY idea what shape your car is IN?" When I rather hesitantly said 'yes', I got an enormous sigh of relief and a skeptical, "Oh, good...I didn't think you were going to believe me!"

The damage was unbelievable! The calipers were bent at nearly a 90% angle from their original location and had to be blow-torched off of the car to be replaced! The front brakes (front wheel drive) literally fell apart in his hand when he released them...Meaning one more tap of those brakes and I would have been history! It was a lucky coincidence that the mechanic barely needed to roll the car to get it up on the platform.

Every part of both the front and back brakes had to be replaced when I could have just paid for a regular change instead. It was expensive! I learned my lesson...

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