In order to keep the brakes on your vehicle in good shape, you need to take care of them in between each time you have new brakes put on your vehicle. Here are a few maintenance tips that will help you take care of your brakes and keep them in great shape this summer.
#1 Have Your Brake Pads Inspected
If you don't remember when your brakes were put on your vehicle, it is a good idea to have your brake pads inspected. When you have your brake pads inspected, your technician will examine your brake pads and see how worn out your brake pads are. An experienced technician should be able to tell, from looking at your brake pads, approximately how much life your brake pads have left in them. If your pads are really thin, or only worn on one side, they will need to be replaced soon.
This information will help you plan and budget for when you need to replace your brake pads in the future.
#2 Change Your Brake Fluid
Just like the oil in your car, you should occasionally change your brake fluid. Over time, water and condensation can get into your brake fluid. When this happens, your brake fluid takes on a milky appearance. This milky looking brake fluid is not good for your braking system; it can damage your master cylinder and destroy your wheel cylinders. In order to prevent this type of damage from occurring, you should change out the brake fluid in your vehicle at least once a year.
#3 Bleed Your Brake Line
Over time, air can get into your brake lines. The best way to get air out of your brake lines, and ensure that the fluid in your brake lines is fresh, is by bleeding your brakes. You can find the bleeder valve on your brake line, put a container under it, and open the valve while someone pumps your brakes in order to bleed the fluid out of your brake line. Or you can have your mechanic professionally bleed your brake lines. You can change the fluid in your brake by pouring brake fluid through a funnel into the master cylinder on your vehicle. Your owner's manual should be able to direct you the location of the master cylinder on your vehicle.
This summer, you need to inspect your brake pads, change your brake fluid and bleed your brake line. You can either do this on your own, or you can have your mechanic do it for you. For more information, visit an auto body repair shop.
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