Tips For Taking Good Care Of Your Car’s Brakes

You probably already know that without good brakes, your vehicle would not be safe to drive. If brakes get too worn down and aren’t working properly, then you won’t be able to slow down or stop very quickly, especially if you are driving at high speeds. Driving becomes especially dangerous if you have bad brakes and you are coming down a canyon, because your brakes could stop functioning completely and could easily cause you to wreck. So how do you make sure that your brakes are kept in good repair? There are plenty of things that you can do to help extend the life of your brakes in Murfreesboro, TN, and to recognize when you may have some brake problems. Here are a couple of tips for how you can take good care of your brakes.

First, if your nearby repair shop offers free brakes in Murfreesboro, TN inspections, take advantage of that offer. Sometimes repair shops will offer this valuable service for free because they want to secure your business. A good brake inspection should include a thorough check of all hydraulic fluids, brake pads, brake shoes, rotor wear, caliper wear, and your vehicle’s anti-lock brake system if it has one. You should make it a rule to have your brakes checked at least once per year to make sure that you are made aware of any problems early on and can get them repaired before they become bigger issues. If you are very rough on your car or if you do an unusual amount of stop-and-go driving, you should plan on having your breaks checked even more often than one time per year.

Second, learn how to pay attention to the common signs that accompany brake problems. Many of the telltale signs of brake issues include:

   *  Your vehicle’s brake warning light turns on.

   *  Your vehicle pulls to one side or the other when you are applying your brakes.

   *  Your brakes feel soft when you press down on the pedal, or it is difficult to push your brake pedal down all the way.

   *  Your car suddenly jerks to a stop when you put pressure on the brakes, instead of slowing down normally.

   *  You hear strange grinding or whining noises when you put pressure on your brake pedal.

   *  You notice leaking fluid around any of your wheels.

If you notice any of these warning signs, make sure you have your brakes in Murfreesboro, TN checked out as soon as possible.