No. 19 brake specialist has tips on taking care of yours

Allen Mincey is very matter-of-fact about what he does. He's the brake specialist for the No. 19 Dodge driven by Elliott Sadler for Gillett Evernham Motorsports. You might say the buck -- and the car -- stops with him.

Mincey, who hails from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is responsible for making sure that Sadler's car, capable of racing at 200 mph, stops when necessary. Brake pads, rotors, calipers -- he works on it all, and when Sadler's foot comes down on the brake pedal, the car does what it's supposed to do.

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While there are differences between the brakes Mincey works on and those on your passenger car, they aren't as great as you might imagine. Most cars today are equipped with disc brakes, which use calipers to squeeze brake pads onto the rotors, which stop the car.

The difference is, Mincey's brakes are completely rebuilt after each race: new pads and rotors, hydraulic elements cleaned, checked and adjusted and all the moving parts inspected, repaired or replaced.

Your passenger car, van or light truck does not receive such tender loving care.

Mincey advises that consumers be aware of what their brakes are doing when driving. Are they squealing? Does the car pull to one side or the other when the brake is applied? Do you notice the stopping distance of your car getting longer and longer?

"Drivers just need to be aware of what they feel and what they hear," Mincey said. "Pay attention, when driving or stopping, to any sounds or sensations, so you can relay that to your service professional."

A few hints from Mincey on taking care of your brakes:

• Panic stops are not good.
• Leave distances between cars and don't tailgate.
• Don't hit the brakes constantly.
• Don't ride the brakes.
• If you feel something, get it checked out by a technician immediately.