Money Saving Brake Repair Tips

Brake repair and preventative maintenance tasks are crucial, to say the least. Not being able to stop a vehicle that is speeding down a highway is a dangerous occurrence indeed. 

Even traveling at a slow speed without functional brakes can be a hazard for driver, passengers, others on the road and any nearby objects such as houses, fences and light posts. Many individuals are on a tight budget and would like to save money on car repairs of all kinds. Using a bit of common sense and altering driving patterns can cut big bucks in terms of breakdowns and repairs. Here are some tips to save your brakes:

- Changing fluids: Changing the brake fluid is an important preventative maintenance task to keep your machine working for a longer period of time. Another term for replacing these fluids is flushing. This simple task will increase longevity of the mechanism and make brakes work better for the duration. This task is one that most mechanically inclined DIYers can handle with ease.

- Drive more slowly: It takes a lot more brake power to stop a vehicle when traveling 85 miles per hour than it does in a car driving 70 miles per hour. Wear-and-tear occurs with high speed motoring and stopping. Slowing down will also save on gasoline. What’s the rush, after all? Speeding along at 85 will also bring the highway patrol officers out from hiding with their trusty traffic tickets in hand.

- Anticipate stops: If driving in a city with stop signs and traffic lights at every block, do your brake pads a favor by anticipating the upcoming stops. Why speed up to every corner and slam to a halt when the inevitable traffic light will stop you anyway? Take the foot off the gas pedal and take it slower when approaching the red lights.

- Figure out the timing: Many cities and towns have traffic lights on a timer so that a car can either make all of them or miss all of them. If the timing is set to allow cars going 40 MPH get through without a red light, why go 45MPH? Many times this “timing speed” is posted; if not, call your local municipality and inquire.

- Empty trunks or truck-bed: Every extra pound of cargo will cost a driver in terms of gas mileage and brake usage. The trunk and truck-bed is not a portable storage shed. Unload it at your destination whenever possible unless wear-and-tear on your vehicle’s brakes, engine and increased gasoline consumption are goals.

- Consciously cut down on braking: Many drivers have a bad habit of alternatively tapping the gas pedal and brake just to maneuver through traffic. This isn’t economical or smart. Watch yourself to notice just how often you step on the brakes and try to make a conscious effort to cut down.

One of the best ways to save money on brake repair and replacement is by altering driving patterns and habits. This is true for every working part of an automobile. Prevention is one of the most cost effective tools around.