There's a degree to which brake service is inevitable, but there are plenty of understandable bad habits many drivers have that are making matters much worse than they need to be. Here are a few examples including what you can do to reverse directions and make sure your brakes last a bit longer so you have more time in between brake service.
Braking with Your Left Foot
It's obviously tempting to use your right foot to hit the gas and your left foot to brake. You have two feet and there are two pedals, so why not right? But the problem is that keeping a foot on the brake while you're accelerating is a real killer for your brakes. Any pressure at all and the brakes are going to be a little active even if it doesn't seem like it.
You'll probably be tapping the brake here and there without realizing it. This is a fantastic way to shred your brakes because you're forcing the wheels to spin really fast right by them, burning them up. Use only your right foot to hit the gas or the brake and you'll be amazed just how much longer they last.
Driving Really Fast for No Reason
It's not like driving fast isn't problematic for other safety reasons, but speed is bad for your brakes. Brakes function by burning off kinetic energy in the form of heat. The kinetic energy of a car is increased exponentially by the speed it's travelling at. This means that if you go a bit slower, it takes way less effort for your brake to burn off the kinetic energy.
The less friction heat the brake has to use, the longer it will survive. You're literally burning off a bit of brake pad and material to stop every time, so go a bit slower and your brakes last much longer.
Filling Your Trunk with Junk
Maybe you've been meaning to get rid of a refrigerator or other bulky and heavy thing and instead just leave it in your car because you keep forgetting to actually drop it off. The problem is that mass also adds more to the amount of kinetic energy your car has when it moves. This translates into more work for your brakes. If you avoid making your car heavier, your brakes will last longer. It's just how the physics works.
Overall, you'd be surprised just how much you can add to the life of your brakes with small actions. It just takes a bit of extra effort. Contact a local shop, like Alignment Center, for more tips.
Share24 November 2015
Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.