Why It’s Important to Keep Up with Brake Maintenance in the Summer

It’s easy to take our brakes for granted. Most people don’t even consider how they need to maintain their brakes until they start to experience problems with them. You might be amazed at how frequently you press on the brake pedal while driving. Think about it—considering all the friction that those brake pads endure while you’re out on the road, it’s no wonder that they wear down and have to be replaced by a mechanic in New Palestine, IN after a certain amount of time.

It’s especially important to keep up with your brake maintenance during the summer months. The hotter temperatures can put a bit more stress on the brakes when heat from friction also builds up. People also generally drive more miles throughout the summer, meaning you’re going to put more wear and tear on your brakes during this time of the year.

Here are just a few issues to consider to help you keep your brakes in good condition all summer long.

Overuse of your brakes

Many people engage in driving practices that actually put too much stress on their brakes. There are ways you can drive more economically that will spare both your brakes and your fuel efficiency. Going too heavy on the brakes can decrease the life of your brake pads and rotors. You should aim to increase stopping distances—slamming on the brakes does not give the heat enough time to dissipate, which could cause you to warp the rotors and damage the entire brake system if you do so too frequently. Engine braking can also be a good habit to get into when it is safe to do so, although it’s generally not a good idea to perform engine braking in denser traffic environments.

Factoring in loads

Larger vehicles that are designed for towing are likely to have multiple braking systems. It is common for inexperienced drivers of these types of vehicles to assume that even if one of those braking systems is inoperable, the rest of them will still be able to function as usual and accommodate the entire load you’re pulling. This simply isn’t true—half the braking capacity comes with half the towing capacity. Otherwise you’re putting far too much force and stress on the vehicle, which could result in brake failure.

Know the signs indicating a need for maintenance

Most of the time, the first sign you’ll notice that indicates a need for brake maintenance is just that the vehicle feels different while you’re behind the wheel. If you start to notice more vibrations in the steering wheel, feel as though it’s taking more time than usual to bring the vehicle to a stop or hear high-pitched noises when you apply the brakes, these are all signs that you should bring your vehicle in for brake inspection.

For more information about the importance of maintaining your brakes during the summer, contact Auto Air & Heating, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with an experienced mechanic in New Palestine, IN.

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Writer