Extend the life of your car’s brakes with effective tips

As you are already aware, brakes are a crucial aspect of controlling your vehicle on the road. It goes without saying that brake failure can result in hazardous situations and lead to expensive repairs. However, there are several measures you can take to avoid costly brake repairs. To help you out, we have compiled a list of five tips to take care of your brakes effectively.

How do the brakes of a car work?

Although it may seem that pressing the brake pedal slows down your car by reducing wheel speed, the truth is that modern automotive brake systems are the result of years of innovation. The brake system now consists of hydraulic brake lines filled with fluid that become pressurized when the brake pedal is engaged, causing the padded drums within the wheels to expand and gradually decrease the wheel speed.

It's essential to understand these two crucial components of brake systems - the brake fluid and brake pads - that you, as a car owner, must maintain properly. By taking care of these components, you can ensure the longevity and reliability of your car's brake system.

Tips to maintain the brakes of a car

Start using the following techniques from today and extend the life of the brakes.

1. Maintain optimum brake fluid level
2. Don’t overload your vehicle
3. Avoid braking unnecessarily
4. Replace bad brake pads
5. Keep an eye on Brake rotors
6. Prevent brake overheating

Maintain optimum brake fluid level

Checking and maintaining the brake fluid level is of utmost importance. Here are a few steps you can follow to check the brake fluid level:

• Before and after checking or changing the brake fluid, ensure that you clean the top of the brake fluid reservoir cap thoroughly.
• Check the fluid level, making sure it is above the minimum level and below the maximum level of the reservoir.
• Keep an eye out for brake fluid leaks.
• If the brake fluid has darkened in color, immediately replace it.

Don’t overload your vehicle

When a vehicle is overloaded, it places additional stress on its brakes, resulting in wear and tear. Therefore, it is essential to take care of your car's brakes by placing luggage in the designated boot area and avoiding overloading the vehicle with passengers. Additionally, overloading the vehicle is a bad driving habit that can cause damage to manual cars.

Avoid braking unnecessarily

While driving, it's essential to keep a complete view of the road, covering all angles and not just focusing on the road straight ahead. This comprehensive view enables the driver to analyze the movements of vehicles and pedestrians in the front, sides, and rear of the car, which can help prevent unnecessary braking and reduce the wearing of brake pads.

Replace bad brake pads

The brake pads play a crucial role in the braking system of a car, serving as the contact point between the brakes and the tyres. Due to the heat generated between the tyres and brake pads, the pads wear out relatively quickly.

A telltale sign of worn-out brake pads is requiring more force to bring the car to a complete stop. As a preventative measure, it's recommended to have your brake pads checked during each visit to the repair shop. If found worn, the pads on your car's brakes should be repaired or replaced.

Keep an eye on Brake rotors

When it comes to brake rotors, common signs of damage include a high-pitched screeching or grinding noise, as well as vibrations in the steering wheel while braking.

If you notice any of these signs while braking, it's essential to have your brake rotors replaced as soon as possible. To maintain brake efficiency, it's recommended to replace brake rotors every 100,000 kilometers.

Prevent brake overheating

To avoid overheating your car brakes while driving down a hill, try using the tap method or downshifting to a lower gear. This not only helps to keep your brakes cool but also allows for effective speed control. Failure to prevent overheating can be a serious concern for your car's braking system and could even lead to brake failure in extreme conditions.

Final Words

Regular preventative maintenance on your car's brakes is essential since they are the most critical safety system of your vehicle. It is recommended to follow the car maintenance schedule for timely servicing.

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