Good driving habits breed good brakes. Most of the causes of premature brakes wear have all got something to do with how you drive. But it won’t be fair if we don’t say, there are also other factors that can cause your car brake and the associated hardware to waste away. So here are some pointers you can keep in mind to give both your wallet and your car brakes a much-deserved break.
Read: 10 Night Driving Tips very specific for Indian Roads!
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Tailgating is always a bad idea
Tailgating Don’t let your impatience get the best of you. You might feel that tailgating is going to get you there faster, it probably won’t. So, what is tailgating? Tailgating is trailing close behind the car in front of you. Aside from dampening your car’s fuel economy, tailgating puts you at the risk of front end collision. And to avoid an imminent motor accident, you would have resort to sharp braking. Braking hard and fast is going to take a toll on your braking system. So better kick that annoying habit. Unless you enjoy spending money on frequent brake replacements.
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Change brake fluid every 2-3 years.
If you drive most cars, yours too would have a hydraulic brake. When you step on the brake, the vehicle comes to a halt as a result of the pressure in the brake fluid. The brake system is completely sealed to sustain this tension. However, the brake fluid heats up from time to time. As a result, there would be moisture contamination in the brake fluid reservoir. This moisture build-up can damage parts in the braking system and can even cause rusting.
In order to prevent this from happening, get your brakes flushed and fluids changed whenever you are getting your car’s engine oil replaced. For this, you can take your vehicle to a service centre near you.
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Do not use your left foot for the brakes
Use your right foot to depress the brakes Somewhere along the line, we all pick up some bad driving habits. While some of these hold you back, others are downright dangerous. One of a such bad habit is using your left foot to slam the brakes. This is not going to do you or your vehicle any good. You might accidentally hit the throttle while stepping on the brakes.
Depressing the accelerator and brake pedal simultaneously causes a lot of friction in the braking system. Keep doing this and you will be cutting your brake’s life short. Therefore, when it comes to braking make it a habit of sticking to your right foot. Reserve that left foot for the clutch pedal.
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Slow down before you stop
Coast before you hit the brakes Another way of keeping your car brakes in mint condition is by slowing down before you come to a stop. The braking system operates by transforming power into heat energy. And when the energy is released as heat the vehicle stops. So if you stopping your car when it is moving at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour, the vehicle’s brakes would have to turn a much bigger amount of energy into heat. This also means that your car’s brake-pad would wear down a lot faster. Try slowing down a bit before braking.
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Don’t overload your car
The heavier your car the shorter would be the brake’s lifespan. When you need to get your car to come to a stop, you apply the brakes. But if the car is heavy the brakes would have to put in a lot more effort to get the machine to stop. So, do your brakes a favour and refrain from overloading your car trunk. Plus, doing this would fetch you a better mileage too.
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Use Engine Braking
If your car has manual transmission you can leave it at lower speeds while making your way down a slope. We call this engine braking. If you are putting your car on a lower gear while descending a hill you won’t have to step on the brake pedal. Ergo, more downtime for your brakes. In the long run, you would not need to get the brakes patched up, that often.
When you get your car serviced, get the thickness of the brake-pad checked out as well. If it is worn you should definitely invest in a new brake-pad. And remember to buy a good quality replacement.
Follow these tips and make the most out of your car brakes. Good brakes ensure that your ride is smooth and safe. Therefore whenever you feel like there is something up with your car’s braking system take a note to get it checked out!
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Also, check out How To Extract The Best Mileage From Your Turbo Petrol Car
