How Often Should Brakes Be Serviced?

Simply stated, brakes should be serviced any time you feel you are starting to notice stopping issues.  You may be just minutes away from an accident if your vehicle fails to stop when and where you expect it to.  Correctly working brakes are an absolute must for safe driving!  Drivers should be aware of when their brakes begin to fail or lose their effectiveness.  

Your answers to the following questions are factors that will determine the lifespan of your brakes:

• What is your style of driving? If you are an aggressive driver who is constantly stomping down hard on the brakes, such as in stop-and-go town traffic or at stoplights, your brakes will wear out more speedily than those who come to a slow stop while pressing gently on the brake pedal.
• How much does the vehicle plus passengers/cargo weigh? The stopping power of brakes is calculated on the weight of the car plus the passenger limits.  If you are continually overcapacity your vehicle, the effectiveness of your brakes is significantly diminished.
• What is the quality of the brake components? The quality of the components, such as brake pads and rotors, impacts how fast they wear out.
• What is the purpose of your vehicle? Pulling heavy loads, such as heavy trailers, driving mostly in mountainous terrain, or making frequent stop-and-go trips, your brakes will wear more speedily as they have to be applied harder and more frequently than on level roads.

Here are some problems that you should be on the lookout for relating to your brakes:

• Brake light comes on and stays on. 
• Squealing, squeaking noises. 
• Wobbling, vibration.
• Fluid leaks. 
• Spongy brake pedal.
• The car pulls to one side when braking. 
• Burning smell while driving. 
• Bouncing up and down when you make a hard stop.

Do you know how often should brakes be serviced? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about brake repair and to make an appointment.  Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.