When our 1972 Pontiac Catalina arrived at Rolling Start, we were pretty happy that it fired right up and moved under its own power. But getting an old car running is only part of the equation — making sure it can stop safely is just as important.

This week, we turned our attention to the Catalina’s front brakes.

Once we got everything apart, it was pretty clear that the old brakes had seen better days. The brake pads were badly worn, and comparing the old rotors to the new ones really shows just how much attention this car needed.

With the brakes apart, we also took the opportunity to service the front wheel bearings. David worked on removing, cleaning, and replacing the bearings as we went through the front end.

The worn brake pads tell the same story as the rotors. This Catalina may start easily and have plenty of life left in it, but after more than 50 years on the road, there are plenty of things that need some attention before it is ready for its next owner.

With new rotors and brake pads installed and the wheel bearings taken care of, we can check another important job off the list.

Our plan for the Catalina is still fairly simple: clean it up, take care of the things that need attention, and eventually sell it. The money from the sale will go right back into Rolling Start and help us keep other vehicles on the road for people in our community who need them.

Sometimes that means tackling a major repair. Other times, it means spending an evening replacing worn-out brakes on a 1972 Pontiac.

Either way, it keeps us rolling.