Tips For Keeping Your Brakes In Good Condition For Years To Come

Your brakes are obviously one of the most important parts of your vehicle. A vehicle without good brakes won't pass inspection and may leave you vulnerable out on the road. Whether you've just gotten new brakes and you'd like them to last for a while, or you want to prolong the life of existing brakes that are getting up there in age, here are some tips that might help.

Go Easy on the Padding by Tapping Lightly

Every time your brakes are pressed, your brake pads get pushed into the rest of the gears. This is what helps stop your momentum, but the brake pads will obviously pick up wear and tear from this motion over time. Eventually, your pad will whittle away to nothing, and you'll have metal scraping against metal every time you hit the pedal. If you want your brake pads to last longer, be mindful of just how hard you are slamming on the brake pedal. Don't push it harder than is necessary.

Allow Yourself Some Distance and Avoid Sudden Stops

Beyond just being mindful of how often and hard you are tapping the brakes, you can actively start driving differently in an attempt to create fewer situations where slamming the brakes is required. While out on the highway, don't tailgate, and leave a good bit of distance between you and the car ahead of you when possible so you don't need to come to a sudden stop. When approaching a traffic light, try to pay close attention to the current status of the light to either start braking sooner when it turns to yellow, or just hit the gas and move through, as long as you are not breaking a traffic law.

Regular Inspection Is Key

The next time you go in for an oil change or another basic task, there's nothing wrong with asking the mechanic to just take a quick look at the brakes. There are a variety of other mechanisms down there besides just the brake pads, and they all need to be working smoothly in order for your brakes to avoid wear and tear. Some states require car inspections where your vehicle will be inspected in full, including the brakes, at least once a year, but if your state does not require this, make it a point to have the brakes checked anyway.

Contact a local auto professional today for more information about your car's brakes.


Share