The majority of car owners take good care of their vehicles in order to make sure that their cars run each and every time. However, do you ever check to make sure that your car can halt abruptly if required to do so? It is vital that your brakes function at their best always. Most simple tasks like cleaning up your car or changing your oil is rather easy to do but when it comes to something as important as your brakes, it’s best to have a mechanic make sure that your brakes are in perfect shape.

Tire pressure plays an important part in your car stopping in time. Yes I know we started talking about brakes but if you have under inflated or over inflated tires. Too much pressure in your tires will cause them to bulge and you won’t be riding across the entire width of the tire, the way it was designed, and this will increase your stopping distance. Also under inflated tires will wear on the outer ribs and this will decrease your traction, which in turn lends itself to longer stopping distances. So keep your tires properly inflated. Buy a quality tire gauge, don’t use the ones at the gas stations as these tend to be old and not accurate. It is recommended that tire pressure be checked around once a week, or if there is a noticeable change in temperature. Spare tires need to be inspected also.

Brake fluid is also imperative. Before removing the cap to your brake fluid reservoir, wipe the cap down, or else all the dirt could get mixed in with the fluid. Once you have determined the level and need to add some make sure you use DOT (Department of Transportation) 3 or 4. Make sure to fill all parts of the reservoir. Since you will have the hood open, go ahead and take a look for any leaks or cracked hoses. If there is something amiss, do not hesitate to take your vehicle to a professional. Don’t let a small issue escalate and lead to bigger problems down the line.

The components of the braking system; rotors, pads, discs are pretty straightforward. If you can see any damage at all, then that is a sign that the part needs to be replaced. If you have less than 1/8 inch on your pads it is time to purchase new parts. If your discs aren’t shiny or have deep grooves they may need replacing but they may also just need to be turned. Ask your mechanic if you aren’t sure. Slight lines in the disc are normal, but large grooves are not. Also make sure that the hoses that travel to the brake calipers are in good shape and aren’t leaking.

If you want to keep safe then it is extremely important that your brakes work the way they are supposed to. They need to be checked out twice annually. Use your computer’s calendar or cell phone’s reminder system to make sure that you have them checked out during the proper intervals. You can potentially avoid serious mishaps by taking good care of your brakes.

Author Bio: Written by Jacqueline Star: Fort Worth Used Cars, Plano Used Cars, Dallas Used Cars

Category: Automotive
Keywords: car maintenance, vehicle maintenance, taking care of your car, car care, car brakes, brakes