Extend the Life of Your Brakes
Keeping your car’s brakes in good condition is one of the most crucial preventative maintenance checkpoints for keeping your car safe on the road.
Your vehicle’s braking system, like all things mechanical, will wear out over time, but you can keep it properly maintained to preserve its usefulness and make sure the system keeps performing at its best. A faulty brake system can cause serious safety problems and expensive damages to your vehicle. Properly maintained brakes are essential to keeping you safe on the road and could even be the difference between life and death in the case of an accident.
Follow These Steps to Extend the Life of Your Brakes
Most brake systems will lose their full effectiveness after 25,000 miles. Factors like quality of the brake pad, braking habits, and the temperature can all have a significant impact on how long your brakes last. Like oil changes and other maintenance performed regularly, a brake inspection is recommended once every six to eight months or at the same time a tire rotation is performed. There are some steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your brakes by adapting your driving style to reduce strain.
Slow Down
The way you drive can affect your brakes. Speeding up and slamming on the brakes will wear your brakes out quicker than anything. The faster you’re driving, the more effort is needed by the braking system to stop your car. Bring your vehicle to a smooth and gradual stop as often as possible.
Lose the Extra Weight
Having heavy equipment in the vehicle places an additional burden and pressure on the brakes, and the brakes will need to work harder to come to a stop. Only carry the essential items in your vehicle; it’ll be easier on the brakes as well as the tires and fuel, too.
Use One Foot
Never press on the brake pedal with your left foot while pushing the gas with your right foot at the same time. This is known as brake riding and can quickly wear down the brake pads and warp your brake rotors. When traveling downhill, put the car in a lower gear. Then, apply the brakes with light pressure to slow down safely. This will help maintain the quality of your brakes. If you don’t want to end up going to a repair shop for premature brake services, change your driving habits.
Get Regular Maintenance
In order to extend the life of your brakes, it’s crucial to keep up with your car’s maintenance schedule. This will include checking brake fluid and conducting regular brake fluid flush, examining brake pads for wear, and having regular brake inspections performed by mechanics at an auto repair shop. Getting regular brake services from your mechanic will keep the brake system in optimal working condition.
Maintaining your brake system will help keep you safe on the road and increase the lifespan of your brake pads. You can increase your brake’s longevity, improve your fuel efficiency, and save money.
Contact the Brake Specialists
Postle Tire Barn has been diagnosing and repairing brake systems for more than 35 years. We are fully licensed and insured, serving West Alabama on Jug Factory Road behind McDonalds. Give us a call or stop by for a free brake system inspection.
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