TIRECRAFT’s Top Tips: Prolonging The Life Of Your Car’s Brakes

The Importance Of Brakes

Your vehicle’s brakes stand as its most crucial safety feature. They grant you the ability to stop your vehicle promptly and reliably when necessary, such as when approaching a stop sign or a red light. Ensuring your brakes function properly isn’t just about your safety, it extends to the well-being of everyone in your vehicle and on the road with you.

The Benefits Of Brake Maintenance

There are several benefits to proper brake maintenance beyond ensuring your safety. Routine brake maintenance prolongs the life of your brakes. Maintenance costs money, yes, but not as much as repairs tend to cost. Properly functioning brakes can also help preserve other components of your vehicle, such as your wheel alignment and suspension. If you’re concerned there might be an issue with your brakes, or if it’s time for a routine brake inspection, contact a TIRECRAFT location near you and we can provide any brake service your vehicle needs.

How To Prolong The Life of Your Brakes

At TIRECRAFT, our technicians have replaced, repaired, and maintained countless brake systems over the years, and we’ve learned a lot about them. Here are some of our top tips for prolonging the life of your car’s brakes:

Avoid Heavy Braking

It’s beneficial to try to anticipate stops and slowing down gradually when you can. Stopping gently is preferable to making sudden, harsh stops. The gentler you brake, the more you can avoid wear on your brake pads, extending their lifespan.

Maintain A Safe Following Distance

Part of braking gently is keeping a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Doing this allows you to slow down gradually, reducing the need for sudden and aggressive braking. This prolongs the life of your brakes and helps keep you and the driver in front of you safe.

Don’t Speed

Maintaining a safe and reasonable speed is also good for your brakes. Driving fast requires more force to slow down or stop, which can increase wear on your brakes. Following the speed limit can help minimize the strain on your brakes.

Don’t Ride Your Brakes

Try not to keep your foot on the brake pedal while driving. Doing this can cause unnecessary friction and heat, leading to increased wear on brake components.

Try Engine Braking On Downgrades

When driving downhill, consider using your engine brakes by downshifting instead of relying solely on your brakes. This helps distribute the braking load between the engine and the brakes.

Maintain Good Brake Fluid Levels

Contaminated or low brake fluid can affect brake performance and lead to premature wear. Follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for brake fluid changes. At TIRECRAFT, we can check your brake fluid levels and quality and top up your levels or flush your brake line if necessary.

Have Your Brakes Inspected Regularly

The qualified technicians at TIRECRAFT can inspect your brakes to ensure they’re working properly and to fix any developing issues. We’ll check for signs of wear, measure the thickness of your brake pads, and ensure that your vehicle’s braking system is functioning properly.

Only Install Quality Brake Components In Your Brake Line

At TIRECRAFT, when we replace brake components, we only use high-quality parts. Quality parts contribute to better performance and longevity. The investment will pay off in the long run.

Try Not To Overload Your Vehicle

Overloading your vehicle puts extra strain on the braking system. Be mindful of your vehicle’s weight limits and avoid carrying unnecessary heavy loads.

Contact Tirecraft For Expert Brake Service Today!

At TIRECRAFT, we can ensure your brakes are in tip-top shape, increasing your safety and the safety of others on the road. To learn more about brake service or to schedule an appointment, please contact your local TIRECRAFT location today.

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