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Brake pads exist to prevent metal-on-metal contact during braking. For cars with disc brakes, each wheel is connected to a rotor. When the brake is depressed, the caliper pistons come in contact with the rotors to reduce the vehicle's speeds. The result is a tremendous amount of heat and friction. By acting as a buffer, brake pads prevent this friction from wearing the entire braking system down. At Hendrick MINI, we want Charlotte, NC drivers to know all that they can about these incredibly important components.

Did you know there are several things to check for on your car to avoid unexpected breakdowns? A simple check of your belts and hoses can save your day while you're on the highway. Your belts and hoses control many important components on your vehicle.

Here at Hendrick MINI in Charlotte, NC, our team has a goal to help our customers stay safe when they're behind the wheel. We keep their vehicles in optimal condition. A tire rotation is an important service that should be conducted routinely. Read further for additional information about why tire rotations matter.

When you have your vehicle's tires rotated, a service technician will change the position of each tire on the vehicle. Most manufacturers recommend that a car's tires are rotated every 5,000 miles, so drivers choose to have their car's tires rotated when they…

If you are planning on going for a road trip this holiday season, then one of the factors to think about is the type of road that you want to take. Perhaps you want to take the shortest route to your destination. You aren't alone. However, some drivers choose to take a scenic route. Different roads are going to vary in how effective they are in giving you the sights that you want on your road trip.

One thing that you want to do on a road trip is to take a road that is well-known. This is effective…

For most of the year in Charlotte, NC, your vehicle can easily and reliably run on all-season tires with no issues. However, as winter draws closer, it's important to understand the advantages of winter tires to know if they're right for you. Here is a basic explanation of the differences in winter and all-season tires provided to you by Hendrick MINI.

All-season tires provide a middle-of-the-road approach between summer tires and winter tires. This means they balance grip, handling, and performance. 

Our dealership wants you to make an informed decision about the seasonal maintenance that you schedule for your vehicle. Extreme heat and cold weather can affect your battery life. Although your car will initially come equipped with the right battery, some of the capacity can be taken out of it if you are driving in the heat or cold for prolonged periods of time.

Temperatures that are above or below normal can be very brutal for your car or truck. It's important to understand that when it's time to replace your battery, you can come to our dealership…

The alternator is a key part of your car. It generates the power that keeps you moving. Most drivers think this all happens in the battery. That's simply not the case: the battery stores power to start a car. The alternator is the part that produces power.

The alternator is important in part because it keeps the battery charged up. With help from the battery, it runs the functional parts of your car. If there's a problem with the alternator, it can affect everything from the windshield wipers to the headlights. 

Oversteering and understeering are handling problems that can affect how an automobile maneuvers to different points on the road. If your vehicle has either of these problems, an automotive technician at Hendrick MINI can resolve it.

Understeering happens when an automobile continues to drift straight after you spin the steering wheel. Typically, a vehicle operates this way because its steering system doesn't have a good grip. When a system oversteers, multiple things occurs that affect a vehicle's cornering ability.  

The battery in your vehicle is vital for it to start and run properly. The battery is what gives power so that the ignition can engage and get the vehicle running. If you have a bad battery, starting your vehicle will be hard or impossible.

Most of the better batteries on the market today are designed to last for about 60 months. If your battery is over four years old, you should consider getting your battery replaced. This is especially true if you are about to head into the cold winter months. 

Did you know there are several warning signs that your starter needs professional attention? Have you ever tried to start your engine in the morning, and all it does is make a whining noise? It might even make a loud grinding noise similar to when you accidentally turn the key after the engine has started.

If you hear a grinding noise and ignore it, you might damage your flywheel. Freewheeling occurs when you hear a whining noise and your engine isn't cranking. This is a result of the starter gear not co-operating with the flywheel.