As a smart car or truck owner, you know that regular maintenance is essential to staying safe and avoiding more severe mechanical issues down the road, along with expensive repairs. Today, we’re going to discuss how to properly maintain your brakes. Every maintenance step is vital – from changing your oil regularly and replacing windshield wipers BEFORE they become faulty to having your engine checked for leaks and many more.
How Do To Ensure That You Properly Maintain Your Brakes?
Here are some essential tips to help you keep your brakes in good condition:
- Whenever your brake fluid level is low, you’re putting excess strain on the master brake cylinder and other components, eventually affecting your pads, rotors, and drums.
- Many cars today have steel or alloy wheels, enabling you to look at the calipers, pads, and rotors easily. Check for uneven pad wear, pits, or scratches on the rotor, caliper rust, and other defects. Checking these out regularly will keep you on top of your brake maintenance.
- If your brakes aren’t functioning correctly, you may see a “BRAKE” light on your dashboard. The light is on to let you know it’s time to perform a brake check soon.
- Your car’s underside is in contact with all kinds of materials on the roadways – ice, tar, pebbles, salt, and other materials, and your brake lines can also be affected in the process. Although most cars are engineered to protect the brake lines, you will want to keep tabs on holes, rust, and other signs of wear and tear. Your auto owner’s manual already has the blueprint for proper brake maintenance, so be sure to take a look. If you have misplaced yours or want to start one, note that you must check your brakes every 10,000 miles or every 3rd oil change. Effective maintenance needs to be done like clockwork. Don’t cut corners!
What Are Some Signs That My Brakes Need Attention?
Be aware of the following issues; they will tell you that your brakes need attention!
- If you hear clicking, screeching, or grinding noises when applying your brakes, it’s time to take your care to a brake specialist.
- Your brake warning light is the most obvious of all signs! Take this alert seriously and get your brakes checked out right away.
- If your brake pedal feels soft or spongy when you press down with your foot, you may have air in your brake lines.
- If your vehicle pulls to one side while braking, you should have your brake system checked out.
- You might have worn-out brakes if your brake pedal vibrates even under normal conditions.
- Have you felt your brakes grabbing once you applied a little pressure? Schedule an appointment with your mechanic to see if you have a bad brake disc.
If you need roadside assistance or towing due to brake problems or other mechanical failures, call Tow Pro! With over twenty years of experience in quality towing, hauling, and roadside assistance services in Middle Tennessee, you can count on Tow Pro to do the job well. If you need us, call us at (615) 256-8697 (TOWS) or fill out our contact form.
We are available 24/7 for emergency towing needs. We tow vehicles from anywhere in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, or Antioch and work along all major local freeways, towing along I-65, I-40, I-24, I-440, and I-840.