A simple answer to this question is to get your brakes serviced any time you feel you are starting to notice stopping issues. Properly working brakes are important for safe driving! You don’t want to be the cause of an accident if your vehicle fails to stop when and where you expect it to.
Here are a few common factors that actually will determine the lifetime of your brakes:
- Style of driving. If you are an aggressive driver, constantly stomping down hard on the brakes at stop signs or as you come up behind another vehicle, your brakes will wear out more speedily than those who come to a slow stop while pressing gently on the brake pedal.
- Weight of vehicle, plus passengers and cargo. The auto manufacturer has calculated the stopping power of brakes based on the weight of the vehicle plus passenger and cargo limits. Continually overcapacity, the effectiveness of your brakes is significantly diminished.
- Quality of components. The quality of the brake components, such as brake pads and rotors, impacts how fast they wear out.
- Use of vehicle. Pulling heavy loads, such as heavy trailers, driving mostly in mountainous terrain, or making frequent stop-and-go trips, will cause your brakes to wear more speedily than normal as they have to be applied harder and more frequently.
- Brake Light On
- Squealing, Squeaking or Grinding Noises
- Wobbling, Vibration or Scraping When Braking
- Leaking Fluid
- Spongy or Soft Brake Pedal
- Vehicle Pulls to One Side When Braking
- Burning Smell While Driving
- Bouncing up and down when you make a hard stop.
Are you wondering how often should you get your brakes serviced? Call our ASE Certified technicians at Proshop Automotive for more information about brake repair and to make an appointment. Our auto repair shop proudly serves residents in Colton, CA, and the surrounding areas.
