Austin TX Brake Service

Regular maintenance on your car, truck, or SUV is vitally important, but perhaps none is more critical than inspections of your braking system. While normal oil changes can help your car run more cleanly, routine brake inspections help keep you safer. Keeping your vehicle’s brakes in top condition might be the difference between getting into a crash or just missing one.

How Do I Know If My Brakes Are Failing?

At the first signs of problems, you should get your brakes checked. A few common symptoms of brake issues include grinding or squealing when using the brakes, a brake warning light that stays on, and clunks or vibrations when using the brakes. Other items to look out for include a brake pedal that feels different. If it suddenly feels spongy or much harder than normal, be sure to get it checked as soon as possible. While these are the most common brake problems it is not an exhaustive list. Ultimately, if your brakes feel off then you can schedule an appointment ASAP.

How To Prevent Brake Problems

While there are other methods to lower the risk of issues, routine maintenance is the best method of preventing any issues with your brakes. Firstly, don’t ride the brakes. If your foot is always on the brake pedal, you are not just generating wear and tear on the brakes; you could end up overheating the brakes, as well. If your brakes are worn or overheated it will take more distance to stop the car. Shifting down in gears vs. braking is another method to help prevent brake problems. Downshifting is the most useful when going down big hills or if you drive a car with a manual transmission. Downshifting helps slow down your vehicle while taking the pressure off of the brakes. One note to consider when downshifting is to make sure the RPMs stay out of the red zone.