The only thing that stands
between you and a mishap on the road is your car’s brakes. Everyone
knows how essential brakes are, but most car owners do not pay close
attention to its maintenance unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
Now don’t get it wrong, periodic brake repair
is an absolute
necessity, but that dead period between a worn-out component and
repairs is when you become the most vulnerable.
Today, an average 4-wheeler
brake pad lasts approximately 37,000 to 93,000 miles, but it also
depends on multiple other factors, including your driving style. It
is an expensive part, costing on average £148, excluding the fitting
and service charge. It is always good to know some tips and tricks to
extend the life of your car’s brakes; if it is in poor condition
your vehicle will not even clear an Tyres Cwmbran or anywhere
else in the UK. It plays a vital role in keeping you as well as other
people on the road safe, and just a little care can save you a lot of
money from recurrent repair charges.
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Clean the Dust – As the brake pedals come into contact with the rotors, friction causes it to heat up and wear out. The brake pad material wears out as fine dust particles that start to accumulate around its callipers, rims, and between rotor discs.
Clean this brake dust every
once in a while to maintain its maximum effectiveness. Use a rag or a
can of pressurized air to remove it.
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Maintain Your Car’s Speed – The number one cause of premature brake wear is coming to a stop from high speeds. For example, an average car’s brakes dissipate 33% less energy when you stop it from 50 mph instead of 65 mph.
Driving within the speed limit
will drastically increase your car brakes lifespan. It would help if
you also practice coasting your car to decrease its speed before
applying brakes. Friction is your friend here.
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Stop Overloading Your Car – A heavier moving body will take a lot more energy to come to a dead stop. Overloading your vehicle puts severe strain on its brakes as it needs to dissipate a lot more energy to decrease its speed. Automobile experts always advise keeping within the recommended weight limit of a vehicle. It also helps upkeep other components like the suspension, tyres, transmission and power train, etc.
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Flush It Every Two Years – Flush the brake fluids and the hydraulic fluids every two years to maintain its quality and performance. These fluids are hydrophilic, but water molecules decrease its efficiency, bring down the boiling point, and cause rust inside the cylinder. These can cause severe malfunctions, you can lose brake pressure, fluid reservoir can rupture, or the brake lines may get clogged and stop working.
Keeping in mind these simple
tips will help you avoid a severe accident during your daily commute.
Also, remember to take your car to a good service station every other
year for a complete inspection of its brakes and ABS. Garages like
Trade Price Tyres offer services such as Brake
Repair in Newport
at affordable prices, so you don’t have to worry about burning a
hole in your pocket for scheduled maintenance.
