Your vehicle is probably one of the biggest investments you have ever made, and the last thing you want is to decrease your car valuation in the UAE or spend more money fixing your car because of brake problems.
Brakes are one of the most important parts of your car, they help stop it from moving forward or backward, make it easier to safely navigate through traffic, ensure safe driving, and prevent accidents.
They act as friction disks between the brake disc and rotor, the braking force generated by the friction created while braking causes heat build-up, and brake wear.
As the brake pads wear down over time, the contact surface area decreases, decreasing the braking efficiency, meaning less friction and a slower stopping speed.
To maintain your brakes for a longer period of time, follow these 7 tips.
1. Use Engine Braking When You Can
When going down a mountain or a hill, try to use the engine brake and let the engine do all the work! So instead of pressing the brake pedal all the way, engine braking slows your vehicle down by shifting gears.
This process is more efficient with manual transmission cars but can be also used with an automatic transmission by shifting the car to a lower gear which slows the engine down from your car’s speed and gives the brakes a break.
Shifting at too high speed or too low of a gear, damages the transmission and engine so you need to be careful when braking the engine.
2. Flush Brake Fluid Regularly
Brake fluid attracts water naturally, which lowers the brake fluid’s boiling point, reduces braking performance, and can lead to internal wear which causes parts of the braking system to rot.
Clean your brake fluid regularly or replace it every two years or 25,000 miles depending on your car type to maintain powerful brakes for your car.
3. Leave Enough Space Between You and The Car in Front
If you drive closer than recommended to the car in front of you, you may need to use brakes more frequently to stop the car faster in order not to crash into the other car, which risks wearing out the brakes.
You should leave an extra distance when driving, especially in dark, bad weather, or at any time there is a higher risk of an accident.
4. Stop Smoothly
You can do that by coasting, which means applying the brake gradually by reducing pressure on the gas pedal. This reduces speed and allows the vehicle to decelerate more easily.
Coasting gives you time to adjust to changing conditions and make you in full control over your car. If the worst thing happened, i.e you had an accident, and your car isn’t working properly anymore, you’ll find tons of scrap car buyers to sell your car.
5. Don’t Overweight The Car
The heavier your vehicle is, the harder brakes will need to work to stop the car, which can reduce brake life significantly.
Take out unnecessary items and avoid overweighting more than your vehicle can safely carry.
6. Don’t Drive Too Fast
Speed is the number one enemy for brakes, and the more you speed up, the more stopping power the brakes will need to stop the car, and continuous or heavy braking causes damage to the brake system.
7. Use Only One Foot, One Foot Only, Not Tow!
Using both feet to apply pressure on the brake and accelerator pedal doesn’t work very well, and could lead to problems.
Use your right foot to apply pressure to the gas or brake pedals, and keep your left foot on the floor when braking and accelerating.
Taking care of your brakes properly prolongs their life, replace brake pads every 6 months or 12,000 miles depending on the car type, check fluid levels regularly, replace them before they run out, and most importantly, drive safely.
Author: Mohamad Omary
Mohamad Omary is the Managing Director of Car Wise. Car Wise.ae is a car buying company that has established itself as the go-to partner for those who want to quickly sell their used cars in the UAE; reaching 20,000 satisfied customers with their easy car selling process and excellent customer service.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the most convenient way to sell a car in Dubai, visit CarWise.
