Brakes are an important part of your vehicle. Without brakes, you wouldn’t be able to slow down or stop properly. Just like all of the other parts, brakes will wear down over time, but there are certain things you can do to help your brakes last longer. Below are some tips to help you maintain your brakes and extend their lifespan.
Tips for Extending the Life of Your Brakes
Prepare for stops ahead of time. One of the fastest ways to wear through your brakes is to make a lot of hard stops. By stopping suddenly, you create a lot of friction on your brake pads and rotors, which heats them up and wears them down. Instead of stomping on the brakes at the last second, it’s better to anticipate stops and ease into slowing down.
Coast when you can. Taking your foot off of the accelerator and allowing the car to coast can help preserve your brakes. This allows your car to slow down naturally. When you do engage the brakes, they’ll have less work to do and create less friction, meaning your brake pads won’t wear out as quickly.
Follow the 4 second rule. In ideal driving conditions, you should maintain at least 4 seconds of following distance between your car and any cars traveling in front of you. Pick a fixed point on the side of the road that’s lined up with the car in front of you and count to 4. If you pass that point at or after 4, you have enough space between the two cars. This space can give you time to react if the car in front of you stops suddenly, turns unexpectedly, or gets into a collision. This can also help you to cut down on braking in heavier traffic.
Remove excess weight from your car. The heavier your car, the harder it is to stop. The harder it is to stop, the more wear you’ll place on the brakes. Only keep the necessities in your car. This will lighten the load, helping to extend the life of your brakes. This will be better for your gas mileage, too.
Keep up with regular brake maintenance. Brakes that are well-maintained will last longer. Keep an eye on your brake pads to ensure they’re the proper thickness. Look for signs of rust or wear on the rotors, and make sure to change the brake fluid regularly. Listen for squealing, squeaking, or grinding as these can all be indicators that your brakes need some work. Maintaining your brakes can help them last longer while keeping you safe and helping you avoid expensive repairs.
Call Restored Auto, LLC for help with your brakes.
From brake repair to brake pad, rotor, and brake fluid replacement, Restored Auto, LLC can help you maintain your brakes. We’d be happy to help you keep your car driving safely and smoothly. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
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