When it comes to taking care of your care, the brakes are one of the most important mechanical aspects of a vehicle. After all, if you are driving along and your brakes go out, it can put you in a very dangerous situation. There are many things that can happen if your brakes fail, and that’s why brake inspection is very important.

How often should you get a brake inspection?

There are varying opinions on how often you should have your brakes checked. There are no requirements for brake checks, unlike oil changes that you should have done about every 3000 miles. Car manufacturers also vary when it comes to offering brake inspection recommendations for each type of car that they manufacture.  

If you are thinking about how often you should have your brakes inspected, a good rule of thumb is to have the brakes checked out each time you get your tires rotated. Typically, you should have your tires rotated about every eight thousand miles or about twice a year. If you have your brakes inspected at the same time you are having your tires rotated, you can address any brake and tire issues that you might have at the same time.

If you hear any type of squealing, squeaking, or other types of noises when you use the brakes on your car, you should go and have them inspected as soon as possible. Do not wait for a brake inspection if you are hearing strange noises when you use the brakes as this is a sign that there might be something wrong. It is best to err on the side of caution and have your noisy brakes inspected any time you think there might be an issue.

If Your Brakes Fail

If your brakes begin to fail when you are driving the most important thing you can do is try not to start panicking. You should downshift the car into a lower gear. Pump your brakes hard and fast to help build up fluid pressure. If the brakes still will not work after you pump the pedal a few times, use the parking brake in order to slow your car down and bring it to a stop. You should apply the parking brake gradually. It is likely that the car will skid, but it will most likely stop as long as the parking brake is working properly.

If none of the brakes in your car are working, try to steer your car in a safe direction until it comes to a stop. Avoid any obstacles along the way if possible. During this time you should activate the hazard lights and also honk your horn to let other drivers know that you are having issues. This can reduce the risk of getting into an accident with another vehicle.

Once your car has stopped completely, put it into park and then call for help. You will need to contact a mechanic that will be able to inspect your brakes to determine what is wrong and then fix the issue.

Preventing Brake Issues

here are several things that you can do while driving your vehicle to help prevent issues with your brakes, If you often ride your brakes you are applying excess pressure on them. This can cause them to wear down faster. Also, when on steeper hills, it might help to downshift if the conditions of the road are good. This will let the engine take the pressure off of the brakes while you are driving. It is also a good idea to clean your braking system regularly to help keep your brakes in working order for longer.

Dave & Rays Automotive Repair Shop in Omaha, NE

Our team has learned one thing: automotive problems are as varied and unique as the customers who bring them to us. Fortunately, our decades of experience in auto service and repair also mean that our skilled network of professionals is ready to accommodate an impressive scope of automotive issues. Contact us today.

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