How To Keep Your Car's Brakes In Top Condition
Posted on: 17 May 2022
Visiting an auto brake services shop is a key part of keeping any car in top condition. If you're not certain how to stay on top of your car's brake services needs, though, you might need a few tips. Even if you're not a mechanic, you can do these three things.
Log Times Between Service
Keep a small notebook in your vehicle's glove compartment to track the dates when you take the car for service. Also, note the vehicle's mileage at the time. Whenever the auto brake services technician puts a new part on, especially pads, drums, or rotors, make a note.
Ask the technician which parts they replaced. Likewise, ask them what the manufacturer's recommendation is for the next replacement. The mechanic can usually give you a number in miles regarding how long the components should last between replacements.
Listen to the Brakes
Logging the service times and mileage of the brakes is fine, but you can't solely depend on that information. Even a top-quality set of brake pads can fracture due to something random like hitting a pothole. Similarly, different use cases will lead to different wear characteristics. A driver who does lots of stopping in city traffic probably won't get the same mileage from their car's brakes as a driver who's mostly on the open road.
You need to listen to the breaks. Crunching and grinding sounds are always bad. Most models of brake pads all have little metal clips that will cause a squealing sound to let you know it's time to visit a brake services provider before the pads wear out.
Sometimes the brakes may sound a little crusty if you've let the car sit for several days or more. However, the sound should go away after some driving with a few rounds of braking. If the sound doesn't go away after a couple of hours of driving, ask a technician to check them out.
Feel
Every braking system has a certain feel. If the feel starts to change, that's usually a sign the brakes need work. For example, the pedal may feel softer because the pads are worn or the brake fluid level is low.
If you notice a radical change in the feel, such as the brakes suddenly getting much tighter or looser, get the car off the road as soon as possible. They may be seizing if they're tighter. Also, a huge drop in pedal resistance is likely due to a brake line blowing out. Unless you're extremely comfortable with gear braking, you shouldn't drive the car in that condition.
For more information, contact a brake service in your area.
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