Maintaining your car’s brakes is about a combination of driving habits and keeping up with regular maintenance appointments. Your brake system is essential to safe driving and there’s more to it than just your brake pads and rotors, so having a trusted brake mechanic will make all the difference with knowing your car’s brakes are healthy. Still, what can you focus on to keep your brake system healthy so you’re safe on the road?
Pay Attention to How You Drive
The first four points are all about how you drive and use your brakes. As with any part of your car, you could easily be putting more stress on essential systems without even realizing it, which means you’ll need more appointments and have to spend more money than you’d like.
Recent Posts
Categories
- AAMCO Diagnostics Center
- Air Conditioning
- Blog
- Brakes
- Brakes, Tires, & Suspension
- Check Engine Light
- Colorado Automotive Advice
- Community Involvement
- Electrical
- Electrical
- Engine
- Exhaust System
- Featured Articles
- Infographic
- Maintenance
- Muffler
- Muffler & Exhaust
- news
- Oil Change
- Online Mechanic
- Radiator
- Radiator & Cooling System
- Safety
- Services
- Suspension
- Suspension System
- Total Car Care
- Transmission
- Transmissions
- Videos
1. Watch Your Speed
brake pads and rotors faster, as well as generally putting more of a toll on your brake system. Especially with city driving, the faster you drive, the more you’ll have to use your brakes when you hit traffic or stoplight. By slowing down and sticking with the speed limit, you’ll both be safer and maintain healthier brakes.
2. Don’t Overuse Your Brake
Along the same lines, if you’re over-eager to brake, that will cause extra wear on your brakes. Try coasting when you just need to slow down a little bit or gradually. Your car will naturally slow some when you take your foot off the gas, so if you don’t need to come to a stop quickly, this can minimize wear on your brake pads and rotors.
Prevention Is The Best Medicine
AAMCO Colorado is staying open to provide essential car care services to help our communities. Stay safe, and get your car maintained here.
3. Don’t Rest on Your Brake
When driving an automatic car, be sure to rest your left foot off to the side rather than on your brake pedal. While you may think it’s totally released, it’s easy to put pressure on it without realizing and that will cause your brakes to be engaged while you’re still driving and accelerating. This will cause unnecessary wear on your brakes, oftentimes without you even realizing you’re causing it.
4. Limit Heavy Loads
Similar to overusing your brakes, frequently carrying heavy loads will put more strain on your brakes when you use them. This is because the heavier your car, the more effort it takes for your brakes to bring you to a stop. It also applies to frequently driving in mountains or on hilly roads where you need to use your brakes on downhill inclines.
Keep Up with Regular Maintenance
Aside from paying attention to your driving habits, it’s important to keep up with regular maintenance appointments for your brake system. Some are necessary more often than others but they all will help keep your brakes operating well.
5. Don’t Put Off Getting New Brake Pads
You can easily check the wear on your brake pads and rotors from home. If they’re getting over-worn, don’t put off getting them replaced. Rotors will last longer than a set of brake pads, though both will have to be replaced from time to time. Also, listen for squeaking or grinding when you brake, since that can indicate you need to make a brake service appointment. Putting off a replacement for too long can end up causing damage from metal-on-metal contact.
6. Get Regular Brake Flush Services
Just like your engine oil or transmission fluid, your brake fluid should be flushed and replaced regularly. About every 30,000 miles, you should have a brake fluid flush done, as brake fluid becomes dirty over time from a combination of use and the environment.
7. Bleed the Brake Lines Every Couple Years
Roughly every couple of years, you should have a brake mechanic bleed your brakes. This is not the same as a brake flush service, as it’s meant to remove air pockets from within your brake system and does not involve flushing and replacing the brake fluid. If you notice a spongy brake pedal, it’s probably time to get this service taken care of.
No Matter What Brake Repair You Need, Trust AAMCO Colorado
At AAMCO Colorado, our brake mechanics can help with any service your car needs. Whether you’re noticing trouble braking or you just know it’s time to get them checked out, make an appointment and we’ll ensure you’re safe on the road.
Recent Posts from Our Blog
Oil Changes & Oil Filter Replacement: What Does This Actually Do?
We all know oil changes are a regular part of car maintenance. But do you know what an oil change and oil filter replacement does for your car? Your car’s engine is a complex system of moving parts and your engine oil and oil filter play an important role in keeping...
read moreFirst 3 Things to Check if Your AC Stops Working
Having trouble staying cool this summer? When your car’s AC stops working, it can make any drive feel like a chore. Finding the problem behind your car’s AC trouble can feel tricky, but there are a few key areas where you can start looking. We’ll take a look at three...
read moreTop 5 Car Skills Your Teens Should Learn
It’s important to help your teenage kids become more comfortable around cars and understand basic car care. While much of car care is about knowing when to bring your car to an auto repair shop, there are also certain tasks that can be done at home, as well as ways to...
read moreOil Changes & Oil Filter Replacement: What Does This Actually Do?
We all know oil changes are a regular part of car maintenance. But do you know what an oil change and oil filter replacement does for your car? Your car’s engine is a complex system of moving parts and your engine oil and oil filter play an important role in keeping...
read moreFirst 3 Things to Check if Your AC Stops Working
Having trouble staying cool this summer? When your car’s AC stops working, it can make any drive feel like a chore. Finding the problem behind your car’s AC trouble can feel tricky, but there are a few key areas where you can start looking. We’ll take a look at three...
read moreTop 5 Car Skills Your Teens Should Learn
It’s important to help your teenage kids become more comfortable around cars and understand basic car care. While much of car care is about knowing when to bring your car to an auto repair shop, there are also certain tasks that can be done at home, as well as ways to...
read moreProtected: How to Check if Your Car Repairs are Covered by Insurance
Password Protected
To view this protected post, enter the password below:
Find Your Local AAMCO Colorado
Navigate our Blog
Recent Posts
Categories
- AAMCO Diagnostics Center
- Air Conditioning
- Blog
- Brakes
- Brakes, Tires, & Suspension
- Check Engine Light
- Colorado Automotive Advice
- Community Involvement
- Electrical
- Electrical
- Engine
- Exhaust System
- Featured Articles
- Infographic
- Maintenance
- Muffler
- Muffler & Exhaust
- news
- Oil Change
- Online Mechanic
- Radiator
- Radiator & Cooling System
- Safety
- Services
- Suspension
- Suspension System
- Total Car Care
- Transmission
- Transmissions
- Videos