Regular inspections of your braking system are the most important, despite the importance of regular maintenance on your car, truck, or SUV. While regular oil changes can help keep your car, truck, or SUV running better, routine brake inspections can help keep you safe. Keeping the brakes in prime condition could be the difference between narrowly avoiding a crash or getting into a collision.
How do I know if I have Failing Brakes?
At the first signs of problems, you should absolutely get your brakes checked. Some of the common symptoms of brake problems include a grinding sound or squealing when pressing the brake pedal, a brake warning light, and clunks or vibrations when using the brakes. Other things you should be on the lookout for include brakes that feel different. If the brake pedal suddenly seems spongy or much harder than normal, be sure to get it checked as soon as possible. While these are the most common brake issues it is not an exhaustive list. Ultimately, if something feels off then you should schedule a service appointment with one of our trained technicians to get it checked out.
Stopping Brake Issues Before They Happen
While there are other methods to lessen your risk of problems, regular repairs are the ideal method of preventing any problems with your brakes. First of all, don’t ride the brakes. You only cause wear and tear on your brakes if your foot is constantly on the brakes, and you could end up overheating the brakes, too. Worn or overheated brakes take more distance to stop the car. Downshifting vs. braking is another way to prevent brake problems. Downshifting is beneficial in a car with a standard transmission or when going down large hills. Downshifting helps take the pressure off of the brakes while slowing down the vehicle. One important note when downshifting is to ensure the RPMs stay out of the red zone.
