Disc Brakes Give Your Vehicle The Power To Stop

Modern vehicles are equipped with metal disc brakes that sit on each side of a spinning rotor on each wheel. When you press on the gas pedal, you are putting hydraulic pressure on the brake lines activating the brake pistons at each wheel.

These pistons squeeze the metallic brake pads into the spinning rotors causing the vehicle to come to a stop.

Regularly Service Brakes For Safe Driving

You should have your brakes checked every 20 thousand miles by a professional to ensure proper function. Servicing brakes consists of changing out the hydraulic brake fluid and switching out the pads and rotors when necessary. If your vehicle has a brake service light illuminated on the dash, you should have your vehicle inspected by a professional like Patrick MINI as soon as possible.

What Can You Do to Avoid Wearing Out Your Brakes?

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of healthy brakes. You can avoid overheating the brakes by using them more gently. Don’t “ride” the brakes when driving downhill. Instead of consistently pushing the brake pedal down during your entire descent, only brake when needed. When you do push the pedal down, use even, progressive pressure on the pedal and avoid slamming and suddenly releasing the brake pedal pressure.

While braking at higher speeds can harm your brakes, you also must consider how you use the brakes in slower traffic. Give yourself extra space between you and car in front of you in order to allow you to coast more before needing to rely on the brake. This will also help prevent you from needing to suddenly push the pedal should the car in front of you slow or stop suddenly. If you drive a car with a manual transmission, you can downshift the vehicle to help save your brakes.

If you have more questions about the health of your brakes, reach out to our MINI service department in Schaumburg today! We serve drivers from all around the Chicago area!