What You Can Do

The brakes are an important contributor to your vehicle’s performance and the overall safety of your drive. Without properly functioning brakes, it would be impossible to safely control your vehicle (unless you want to stop it Fred Flinstone style). As you can imagine, it’s important that your vehicle’s braking system is properly maintained. But outside of scheduling a routine service visit with us, what else can you do to maintain the performance of your brakes?

Kempsville Auto Care Center is here to help you with that. Here are three things you can do to ensure your vehicle’s brakes are always functioning at their best.

Avoid The Stop-And-Go

Although it is unavoidable for some people, it’s best for drivers to avoid stop-and-go traffic when possible. This constant stress on the brakes wears the pads down a lot quicker than normal. If the pads are completely worn, this can also warp the brake rotors. Think about taking a back road or driving during non-rush hour times. This will reduce the likelihood of you running into heavy traffic areas.

If stop-and-go areas are unavoidable, think about taking your vehicle in for an additional brake inspection at our facility. This will allow our technicians to fix any problem before it gets worse.

Lighten The Load

Throughout vehicle ownership, it isn’t unusual for owners to leave random items throughout their car. From clothes and shoes to golf clubs and lawn chairs, there are a variety of things people leave in their vehicle, whether it’s due to convenience or forgetfulness. Unfortunately, this extra weight, however small it may be, can impact the condition of the braking system. When you pair the extra weight with higher speeds, that places a lot of additional friction on the brakes, which will cause them to wear out quicker. When you have time, think about what’s in your vehicle and take out any unnecessary items. Although it may seem small at first, your brakes (and wallet) will thank you later!

Don’t Tailgate!

Tailgating is one of the worst things you can do as a driver. Not only is it annoying, but it’s also dangerous and can lead to some nasty accidents. But even if you stop your vehicle in time, this sudden stop places an extreme amount of pressure on your vehicle’s braking system, especially at higher speeds. When you’re driving, think about maintaining a one or two car gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you time to slow down and stop your vehicle, instead of bringing it to an abrupt halt.

Although you’ll have to bring your vehicle in for a brake service at some point, implementing these habits and methods will make sure that your brakes aren’t completely worn out before your next visit!