6 Tips To Extend the Life of Your Brake Pads This Winter

When you invest in a part for your car, you want it to last. Case in point: brake pads. With these six tips to extend the life of your brake pads this winter, you can keep using the same components for years.

Remember That Speed Kills

The most significant wear on your brake pads comes from slowing down at higher speeds. Your brakes must work harder to stop the momentum when your vehicle moves at 75 miles per hour versus when it travels at 40 miles per hour. That’s why race cars can run through a set of brakes after one session out on the track. So the best thing you can do for your brakes is to watch the speeds you’re driving at. Reckless speeding is an easy way to wear your pads down quickly.

Coast Into Stops Signs and Lights

You’ll also want to know your speeds when approaching lights and stop signs. Ideally, you want to coast into stops. This means letting off the gas, allowing the momentum to naturally slow, and gradually applying your brakes. Besides creating a more pleasant riding experience for your passengers, coasting into a stop is an effective way to avoid unnecessary stress on your brakes. Your car can hard stop in emergencies, but if you rely too heavily on this function, you’ll wear down your pads faster and could cause damage in other parts of the braking or wheel systems because of the pressure.

Leave a Gap Between Leading Cars

To avoid hard stops and the use of your emergency brake, you must practice safe driving techniques to avoid getting yourself into dangerous situations. You want to leave about a three-second gap between you and the car ahead of you. This gap should be about the length of an average car. This way, when they do stop or make an unexpected move, you’ll have the time to react safely and brake.

Don’t Accelerate While Braking

Another easy way to put stress on your vehicle is to push on the gas and brake pedals simultaneously. At that point, you’ll burn through the pad and rubber of the tire as the two forces fight against each other for control. Also, besides wearing our tires, accelerating and braking at the same time can cause accidents since you can lose control of the car.

Change Brake Fluid Every Two Years

Another critical factor in preserving your braking system is making sure you routinely change your braking fluid. Over time, brake fluid can become watered down, losing its effectiveness. As a result, your pedal can lose some of its sensitivity, and your pads must work harder.

Remove Unnecessary Weight

Whenever you brake, your pads stop the momentum of a multi-ton vehicle. The heavier the car, the greater the kinetic energy it generates, and the harder it is to stop. So removing unnecessary weight and cargo from your vehicle can preserve your brake pads in the long run.

If you keep these six tips to extend the life of your brake pads this winter, you can ensure that you maximize the lifespan of this costly car part. If you need help servicing your brakes, come visit your local Commercial Tire to speak with an expert about which type is right for you.