Brake Maintenance – What Can You Do?

When it comes to maintaining the brakes on your car, there should be no compromise. They are the most important component when it comes to road safety and should adhere to certain regulations in order to remain compliant with the law and keep you safe at all times. However, with constant use they can eventually wear out and need either repairing or replacing overtime. In light of this, there are certain checks you can do yourself to help you spot any faults or signs of wear and tear so you can rectify the issue before it becomes a bigger problem.

Master cylinder

The master cylinder starts the power flow to slow down the car’s movement. If the cylinder is damaged or faulty in any way, it will not be able to create enough power to push the brake fluid on to the brakes to halt the vehicle. So making sure you check that the mastercylinder is operating correctly is crucial to the functioning of the brakes.

Brake fluid

The master cylinder pushes the brake fluid to the brakes, slowing down the movement of the car. To ensure this is a smooth process, the brake fluid should be clean. As materials deteriorate, such as rubber, they can flake off and end up in the brake fluid, making it dirty and less efficient. If this does happen, you should replace it as soon as possible. Many manufacturers recommend replacing the brake fluid after every 20,000 to 25,000 miles, as a rough indicator to follow.

Brake lights

The correct functioning of brake lights are just as important as the actual brakes themselves. If there is no one with you to check your brakes are lighting up correctly when you push down on the brake pedal, then drive as close to a reflective surface as you can (this could be a glass window) and you will see the red reflection from the lights if they are engaged and working properly.

Brake pads

If your brake pads are worn, a smooth connection can no longer be made to the rotors and damage can be caused. It is advised to inspect the condition of your brake pads for wear and tear after every 12,000 miles. Modern day brake pads come with an indicator as to when your brakes may need replacing; this is the annoyingly high pitched squealing sound we have all probably heard at some point. A rough guide to follow from manufacturers is a recommendation to replace them after every 25,000 miles.

So now you have an idea of the basic checks you should carry out to help you spot any problems early on and save you a costly repair bill later down the line. However, sometimes it is best to leave it in the trustworthy hands of the professionals who have the specialist knowledge and equipment in order to keep your brakes fully functional and compliant with the law.

Here at Auto Exhausts and Tyres, our highly trained engineers are fully licensed to diagnose any brake problem and provide the best solution at affordable prices. For more information or to book your car in, simply give us a call today.