Top 5 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Brake Pads
The life of brake pads may vary depending on your driving habits and some other factors. The replacement of brakes pads may cost a significant amount of money- so if you can make your brake pads last longer; you can save significantly.
It is recommended to replace your brake pads when they start to “screech” or when you notice decreased performance. However, here are the top 5 ways to extend the life of your brake pads.
Speed is the Enemy
Probably you know how speed affects braking. Full and complete stops from high speeds are a major reason behind premature brake pad wear. Speed causes a lot of wear on brake pads. Coming to a full stop from high-speed forces the brake to dissipate extra energy compared to a low speed.
Brake pads work by transforming energy into heat. It means they worn get worn out quickly the more energy they have to waste. Slow down a little bit can save quite a bit of wear and tear on the brake pads.
Avoid “Two-Footing”
Avoid “two-footing” your pedals. If you have a habit of tapping your brake pedal with your left foot while still keeping your other foot on the accelerator, give it up. It leads to more “break-taps” which can cause premature wear.
Coast More You Can
Keep focused on the flow of traffic, look at stopped or slowed-down cars ahead of you and coast by lowering your speed instead of braking.
Coasting can seriously extend the lifetime of your brake pads.
Don’t “Hurry Up to Stop”
Follow this advice and you can save on gas, as well as on brake wear and tear. If there is a red light approaching or a stop sign coming up, start coasting and slowing down.
There are absolutely no reasons to “hurry up to stop” when the cars ahead of you are not moving. It will lead to a waste of fuel. Besides, you will put excessive wear on tear on the brake pads when you have to stop.
Keep Your Car As Light As Possible
Additional weight in the car can negatively affect the fuel economy of the car. If you keep more stuff in your car, that weight can add up and may lead to a larger kinetic load that your brake pads must halt when you stop.
