Without a working braking system in your automobile, you wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without putting yourself and everyone else on the road at risk. That’s why it’s so critical to make sure your brakes work! However, while most drivers understand the importance of their brakes, not everyone knows that their driving habits can actually impact said brakes’ lifespan.
Are you ready to get better at braking? With a little bit of extra know-how, you can extend the lifespan of your brakes and save some money. Use these five simple tips to preserve the life of your brakes.
Keep Your Speed Consistent
Slow down, Speed Racer! Constantly zooming all over town is much harder on your brakes than slowing down a few miles per hour. Just think about it — the faster your car is going, the harder on your brakes it is to come to a complete stop. By reducing your average speed, you’ll get a longer usage lifespan out of your brakes and brake pads.
Don’t Overload the Vehicle
The heavier your vehicle is, the harder your brakes need to work. It's not a problem to tote some heavy loads now and then, but if you constantly weigh down your car, you'll end up wearing out its brake pads and rotors much faster. Consider splitting loads up into multiple trips if you frequently carry lumber, tile, or other heavy objects in your car or SUV.
Avoid Tailgating
Driving too close to the car that's in front of you isn’t just rude and dangerous. It can also affect your brakes since you’re more likely to need to make full stops. The more space you give yourself, the easier it is to apply the brakes. Plus, when you tailgate, you’ll need to use the brake pedal more often in the first place (since you’ll have to adjust your every move based on what the car in front of you is doing). So think twice before speeding to close that small gap! It’s more considerate to other drivers and helps reduce wear and tear.
Stop “Brake Riding”
Have you ever been behind another car at a red light, only to see their brake lights still lit up as they roll forward when the light turns green? This means the driver of the car is "brake riding," or pushing the brake pedal with their left foot while hitting the gas pedal with their right. While it may seem cool in movies or on TV, this "stunt driving" trick actually ends up wearing down your brake pads and warping the brake rotors. If you're guilty of brake riding, you should kick the habit ASAP. You'll thank us later!
Don’t Miss Maintenance
Your brakes need extra TLC if you want them to last as long as possible. Here are some maintenance tasks you should never miss out on:
Replace Your Brake Pads
Your car’s actual brakes may not need to be replaced for up to 20,000 to 70,000 miles depending on the car. However, the brake pads need to be attended to more frequently. With every service appointment, have your technician check brake wear and install new brake pads if necessary.
Flush Your Brake Fluid
Even modern electric masterpieces such as the 2023 Solterra still rely on brake fluid. The lifespan of your brake fluid depends on your model of vehicle, and oftentimes, the fluid lasts for a shorter time than the actual brakes do. That means you should regularly have your dealer or maintenance technician flush out old brake fluid and replace it with clean, new fluid.
Call the Pros at Piazza!
Bad brakes are a serious safety hazard. If you have even a mild suspicion that something is going wrong with your vehicle’s brakes, have a brake inspection done ASAP. Having your brakes inspected doesn't take long and isn’t expensive, but the peace of mind will save you a lot of worry and anxiety — and could even potentially save your life.
Need to have your brakes looked at, or just want to browse the future Subaru vehicles coming to the consumer market soon? Stop into Piazza Subaru to have your vehicle serviced or set up an appointment online. We’re always happy to help our loyal customers!
