Have you noticed a recent change in your vehicle’s brakes? Does your brake pedal feel “spongy,” or like you have to press harder than usual to get your car to stop? You may not think it’s a big problem, especially if your vehicle is still otherwise behaving normally. If your brakes still work well enough to stop your car, why worry? Well, it’s best to get your brakes checked if you notice them behaving differently than usual. You shouldn’t wait for an emergency to get your brakes checked; your brakes are a vital component of your vehicle. When that brake warning light turns on, don’t ignore it. Let’s look at the benefits of brake repair.
Increased Driving Safety
We’ll start with the most obvious point. Driving with faulty brakes is unsafe both for you and for everyone on the road with you. A car that won’t stop precisely when you tell it to is not a safe car. If you’re in a situation that requires braking suddenly and your brakes don’t respond appropriately, that situation becomes more dangerous. For instance, if a driver in front of you slows or stops suddenly and your brakes aren’t functioning correctly, you could end up rear-ending them. This, of course, causes damage to both vehicles and could injure people in either.
There’s also the headache of arranging for the repairs of both cars. It’s much more cost-effective (and safer) to know your brakes will work just as you want them to, right when you need them to. That’s why maintenance service is so crucial to proper brake function.
Damage Prevention
When you get your brakes checked, maintained, and repaired, you aren’t only looking out for your safety and that of others – you can also prevent damage to your car outside of dangerous situations. If you let your brake pads wear down until they’re scraping the brake drum, you’ll need to replace the drum too, which is much more expensive than brake pad replacement alone. Minor preventative brake service is always a better call than waiting until the problem becomes too bad to ignore.
The best part is that many auto repair shops will perform inspections of brake systems for a low price – and a significantly lower cost than brake system repair. Brake specialists can let you know if there’s anything wrong with your brake system components and how to manage them.
Save Yourself Time and Money
Even a more extensive brake repair or component replacement is less hassle than a large-scale repair to your vehicle. Spending money on preventative maintenance will always be a better idea than waiting for a significant problem to arise. If you’re in an accident because your brakes aren’t functioning as they should, the cost of repairing – or even replacing – your vehicle will undoubtedly be more than the cost of simple brake repairs. This is without mentioning how much longer those more extensive measures will take than just making sure your brakes are working every so often.
Greater Vehicle Control
Do you notice that your car pulls to one side when you brake? It’s a common sign of brake trouble. It means there could be a problem with your brake lines or even your master cylinder. In a functioning brake system, your hydraulic brake lines will distribute equal pressure to all brake pads. This distribution isn’t equal in bad brakes, which means one side of the vehicle will brake faster than the other. When you can’t control your vehicle correctly, you have less control over your own safety as well. Save yourself some time and money on brake repair by taking your car in for inspections and maintenance.
Peace of Mind
Many of the common symptoms of brake mechanism problems are very unsettling to the driver. If your vehicle’s brakes are failing, you might notice nerve-wracking warning signs like rattling or squealing noises, a “squishy” brake pedal, or a steering wheel that tugs from side to side.
Quite simply, it feels good to know your car is functioning properly. When you know your brakes are working just as they’re supposed to, you feel safer in your vehicle. Knowing you can count on your brakes to make a sudden stop means you and your passengers are safer.
When Should I Seek Brake System Service?
Even if your brakes aren’t causing you a significant problem, it’s still a good idea to take your vehicle in for regular brake inspection just to make sure there aren’t any problems you’re missing. For example, it’s a good idea to replace your brake hoses and brake lines after several years of use. Leaks in brake hoses cause your car to leak brake fluid, which makes your brake system less effective.
Brake repairs are necessary because brakes wear out over time. They also require regular maintenance to ensure proper functioning. A professional can inspect the brake components and the entire braking mechanism for any problems. Your auto shop might even offer complimentary brake inspection! It’s the best way to know for sure that your brakes are functioning correctly.
Ron’s Auto & RV Can Help!
Don’t wait for brake failure to ruin your day. A little preventative maintenance can go a long way to keeping you and your car safe – and we’re just the company for the job. Come to us for brake repair service and we’ll make sure your brake performance is at its very best. We take pride in our excellent service, whether it’s a common brake repair or something more complicated. With a complete brake inspection, we’ll let you know of anything and anything your brake system might need. Check out our website and give us a call – set yourself up with an appointment today!