Posted July 17, 2017 by Ali's Woodinville
We’ve written about brakes on this blog before, but that post was more about the importance of brake checks. It also covered what to watch for, so you can bring your car in to have the brakes checked and serviced before a bigger repair is needed. In this post, we want to share some tips and habits that help your brakes last as long as they can. Eventually you will need new pads and some repairs, but a few simple guidelines can help you put off those services for as long as possible.
1. Avoid Stopping from High Speeds
Nothing kills brake life faster than stopping from high speeds. Of course, sometimes you have to brake at high speed, when there’s an unexpected slowdown or a hazard in the way. But the effect grows quickly as speed goes up. The energy your brakes have to turn into heat rises with the square of your speed, so a stop from 65 mph puts about 40 percent more heat into the brakes than a stop from 55. Some of the strategies below can help keep this from happening as often.
2. Look Up, Plan Ahead
Planning ahead and practicing good defensive driving help you prepare for obvious slowdowns and keep your pace smoother. Keep your eyes on what’s happening down the road as well as right in front of you. You can often spot a stale green light about to turn yellow, or traffic backing up ahead, and at least take your foot off the accelerator early enough to keep your speed down for a possible stop.
3. Get Good at Coasting
We’ve already been hinting at it. Coast more as you approach stop signs and stop lights, so you won’t need to brake as hard and you won’t be going too fast to begin with. Small changes like this to drive more smoothly can make a noticeable difference.
4. Lose the Extra Weight
No, we’re not talking about dieting. We’re talking about your carload. It may not seem like much, but if your trunk is full of things you don’t need to have with you, you’re making the brakes work harder. It’s also hard on your suspension and your fuel economy. In the long term, remember that the overall weight of the vehicle also affects brake life, so choose your next vehicle wisely and keep it as light as you can. You’ll find the savings in longer-lasting brakes.
5. No Left Feet Allowed
This isn’t a problem for most drivers, but if you taught yourself to brake with your left foot (sometimes or always), it’s time to break that habit. Use only your right foot. That keeps you from pressing both pedals at once, which is a fast brake pad killer. On top of that, it can be a safety issue if your brake lights are coming on while you’re actually accelerating. Do it the right way: no lefties.
Don’t Put Off Brake Repairs
As always, we hope these tips help you stay ahead of car trouble. If you need a brake inspection or repair, don’t procrastinate. Local shops like ours will always try to save you money and keep you informed about what needs to be done and how much time you have.
Smooth driving can stretch your pads a long way, but the hills around Woodinville and the stop-and-go on Hwy 522 still wear them down eventually. A squeal when you brake, a pedal that feels soft, or a pulsing through the pedal are all signs it’s time for a look. Our free brake check tells you how much pad life is left, so you can plan the repair instead of being surprised by it.
If you live in the Woodinville, Bothell or Kenmore area and don’t have a mechanic you trust, we’d be happy to see you at Ali’s Woodinville Auto Repair for brake repair or any automotive need. Coming from Bothell? Our Bothell brake repair page has more for you.
Call 425-420-1630 or request an appointment for a free brake check.
