Summer is here, and it’s time to hit the road to explore new places or return to your favorite destinations. But before you take to the open road, you need to make sure your car is ready for the trip, especially your brakes. Summer road trips often take us down windy back roads or through stop-and-go traffic, and your brakes need to be ready for anything. At Erick’s Custom Exhaust & Auto Repair, we make sure your car is road-worthy and ready for every adventure!
Are your brakes ready for a road trip? Here’s what you should do to ensure your brakes are in good shape.
Listen for Unusual Noises
When your brakes are in good condition, they shouldn’t make any noise when you engage them. Squeaking, squealing, or grinding noises when you brake are all signs of wear to the brake pads or rotors. Worn brake pads tend to squeak, and grinding usually means the rotors are warped. The sound of metal on metal while braking often means your rotors are grooved. For all of these issues, replacing the rotors or the brake pads should resolve the problem.
Check for Wear to Pads and Rotors
Even if you don’t hear any odd noises coming from your brakes, you should still visually inspect your brakes before taking a long trip. If your brake pads are less than a ¼ inch thick, it’s time to replace them. Depending on the type of brake pad and your driving habits, brake pads typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles. The lifespan of your rotors is about the same, but they usually make it to the longer end of the range.
Flush the Brake Fluid
The brake fluid is what translates the force of depressing the brake pedal into pressure on the brakes to stop the car. When you step on the brake, it should feel like you are pressing against something solid, so “mushy” brakes are usually the result of old brake fluid. Brake fluid degrades over time, so you should flush and replace the brake fluid every two years. If it’s been a while since you flushed your brakes, it’s a good idea to do it before taking a long trip.
