One Driving Habit That Takes Thousands of Miles Off Your Brake's Life

Brakes - despite being the most essential component, its upkeep is often neglected. Don't think so? When was the last time you asked your mechanic to change the brake pads before he asked you to? It's common to deny any brake-related issues, especially when there are thousands of moving parts to take care of.

A majority of car owners continue to drive with worn-out brake pads simply because it works for the time being. But as a responsible car owner, you shouldn't take the brakes for granted. Also, if you don't want to attract unnecessary maintenance or repair expenses, you need to drop one driving habit right away.

“Braking too often and too hard”

Brakes are meant to be used and not abused. Understandably, city driving takes a toll on brakes, leading to premature wearing. Brakes will wear out, sooner or later, but the good news is you can slow down the process by:

• Using engine braking
  

• Avoiding hard braking
  

• Avoid using the clutch while braking
  
  

Engine braking is a simple yet effective way to slow down the vehicle without straining the brakes too much. When you are driving down a long, steep slope, downshifting can get the retarding forces within the engine to work. This reduces the strain on external brakes and prolongs their life.

Avoiding hard braking not only prevents premature wearing of brake pads but also allows drivers behind you to maintain a safe distance all the time. Hard braking isn't always necessary unless a carefree Kangaroo decides to jump out in front of your car. 

Press the brake pedal slightly as soon as you spot an obstacle from a distance and go your way down as needed. This is the safest, sensible way to apply brakes under normal conditions.

Avoid using the clutch while braking, and you'll never wear out the brake pads prematurely. When you depress the clutch pedal, you set your vehicle loose. And thus, you need more stopping power from brakes in order to slow down. You should press the clutch pedal only if you feel the need to downshift while braking.

Bonus tip

Your brake pads have worn out completely, what's next?

This calls for immediate brake pad replacement, lest you have to deal with additional damages caused to the brake rotors. Driving with worn-out brake pads causes the rotor to overheat which may also affect its perfectly circular geometry or cause it to chip, crack or split into pieces. Brake replacement can be expensive if you get it done at the dealership.

However, there are independent workshops for car repairs in Sydney, where you can get OEM parts installed without having to pay a ridiculously high labour fee.

Also, it is highly recommended to have your brakes checked and cleaned regularly to prolong their life and change brake pads every 20k-30K miles.

About This Author

Sanjay Sethi Joined: January 23rd, 2020