Ensuring that your brakes are working at their best is a very important part of driving. Nobody wants to end up stranded in the middle of nowhere because they waited too long to head over to the car repair centre to check the condition of their brakes.
Here’s how to tell if your brakes need any attention– and how to avoid getting them to that point in the first place.
How can you tell if your brakes are faulty?
The seasoned driver will often be able to tell whether their brakes are faulty based on their responsiveness during driving. For the less experienced however, there are luckily a few warning signs you can watch out for:
Noises
If you can hear anything that resembles a screeching, scraping or squealing from your brakes, chances are they need looking at.
Reduced functionality
If you have to push down harder on the brakes than you’re used to, it could also be a sign that you need to visit the car repair garage.
Smells
If you find that there’s a strong smell, particularly of burning rubber coming from your tires, then you should stop pretty quickly and give us a call.
How to avoid brake complications
Like with many essential car parts, the way you treat your brakes day to day influences how long they will last and how responsive they might remain in the long-term. Here are a few things you can do to maintain them for longer.
Drive sensibly
An obvious point, admittedly, but an important one nonetheless. As well as increasing the chance of an outright collision, driving dangerously means you’re more likely to brake suddenly, meaning more strain on the breaks, and more time spent at the repair garage.
Avoid carrying heavy cargo
There will always be situations when you’ll have to carry heavy luggage or multiple passengers. If there’s any way you can reduce this occurrence you’ll alleviate pressure on your brakes and encourage them to last for longer.
When brakes break
Despite all the sensible driving and studious maintenance, sometimes your breaks will simply give out. And if you find yourself in the middle of a motorway somewhere, and your car stops working, you’re going to want to be sure that you can get back on your feet in no time.
Luckily, if you break down within a 15 mile radius of our car repair garage, we’ll pick you up and drop you off for no extra charge.
If you want to find out more about our car repair services, check out our blogs on tyres, cam belts and exhausts.