Brakes are an integral part of any vehicle, and if their proper function is necessary to avoid collisions and accidents. However, they work through friction, pressing brake pads against the moving tires of your car. Naturally, this will wear away at the brakes, and over time can cause them to lose effectiveness, making the likelihood of an accident much higher. Thankfully, there are a number of simple things that you can do to ensure that your brakes stay in good working order.
Drive Slower
Driving at higher speeds and suddenly stopping places a lot of friction onto your brakes, which will cause them to wear down much faster. If you reduce your average speed while you are driving, you will not only reduce the overall amount of wear and tear that your brakes suffer from, but you will be able to respond earlier to stoplights and hazards on the road. This allows for smoother braking and reduces the likelihood of a collision occurring.
Time Braking
Look up ahead to see if the path is clear or if a light is about to turn red. If you're going to have to stop in the near future, avoid accelerating, as you will only have to brake immediately afterwards. Not only will this put increased stress on your brakes, but it will also burn more gas, ruining your fuel efficiency and costing you money in the long run.
Reduce Load
Remove anything from within your vehicle that may be weighing it down. Remove anything that isn't essential and you won't need while driving around every day – things like water bottles and bags of clothes may seem light at first, but they build up over time. This reduces the amount of stress that is placed on your brakes while you're slowing down, as your vehicle does not have as much momentum. Like the above tip, reducing the load of your vehicle will also improve your fuel efficiency and save you money at the pump.
Flush the Fluid
Have your brake fluid flushed regularly to ensure that the brake lines are in proper working order. The recommended amount of time or distance between having your brake lines flushed will depend on your vehicle, and can be found in your owner's manual. It's important to flush the fluid occasionally because moisture can build up within the brake lines, which reduces your brake's effectiveness and also encourages corrosion, which can shorten the lifespan of your brakes.
For further assistance, contact local professionals, such as those from Buettner Tire & Auto.
Share25 April 2016
After trying in vain to fix my car for a few months, I realized that I needed to hire a professional. I was tired of dealing with repairs that I was unfamiliar with, and I knew that I needed to get some help. I started looking around for a great auto mechanic, and even though one business was more expensive than others, I decided to work with them. They worked hard to fix my car, and I was really pleased with how great of a job they did. This blog is all about investing in proper auto service so that you don't have to deal with problems in the future.
