When Your Brakes Need Service
Brakes are an extremely important component to the safe operation of your motor vehicle, of this there’s no doubt. But it’s also a system that many don’t fully understand or have checked as often as they should.
A lot of experts in the automotive industry suggest having your brakes changed every 20,000 miles. But whether you follow these guidelines or not, your brake system is definitely something you want to keep an eye on.
It really is one of the most important components to your car, particularly as it relates to safety
Brakes over time
Brakes are going to wear out over time; this is a fact. This is even more true if you’re doing a lot of stop and go type driving, which means your brakes are under more pressure and being used much more frequently.
It’s a good idea to have your brakes looked at every time your tires are rotated. There are many different components to a car or truck’s brake system, so just giving them a quick once over regularly is definitely a good idea.
Brake system check
If you rotate your tires yourself and aren’t comfortable with doing a brake system check, consider having your brakes examined about every 10,000 miles. Or you could also consider having your mechanic give your brakes a look every time you take your vehicle in for servicing.
Brake pads, for example, should really be replaced every 20,000 to 60,000 miles. This is obviously a wide gap, but again it depends on what type of driving you’re doing.
Up and down driving
If you’re out on the highway or on an interstate taking long trips, your pads are obviously going to last longer as you’re not using your brakes nearly as frequently as someone driving around town or on city streets.
If you do a lot of up and down driving, like in a hilly or mountainous region, or on roads that have a lot of sharp turns, you should also get your brakes checked closer to the 20,000 mark than the 60,000 one.
Regardless, you want to keep an eye out for warning signs that your brakes could be wearing down, thus offering you and your family less protection when out on the road.
Keep an eye on
Things to look out for include strange sounds when applying your brakes, your car and/or steering wheel vibrating when braking and the car pulling to one side when attempting to slow down or come to a stop.
And be sure to keep an eye on that indicator light on your dashboard. Those are there for a reason, so if that brake light comes on, don’t ignore it.
Different Components
If you take your vehicle in for a brake system check, there are many different components that could require attention. Brake jobs range from simply replacing the brake pads and topping off fluids to repairing or replacing the entire brake system.
Pads, rotors and calipers could all require attention, but you really won’t know what the problem is until you have a trusted and professional mechanic address the situation and provide you with recommendations.
Safety
When it comes to the safety of you and your family, ensuring you have brakes that are in good working order is of the utmost importance.
Having them checked and serviced regularly is one of the best ways to keep you and your family safe when out on the nation’s roadways.