Essentially, car brakes play a part in contributing to your safety on the road by providing an equivalent force against the accelerative force; restoring your vehicle back to a still state in times of emergency. Without the practice of good driving habits, your car’s brakes may experience unnecessary wear and tear that increases safety risk and possibly higher maintenance costs.
1. Late braking
Frequent delayed and aggressive braking causes strain on the braking system, which will wear out the pads and discs at a faster rate. Additionally, the heat generated in the process worsens the fading of brakes. The same applies to excessive acceleration, as the higher the speed, the stronger the resistance of the brakes is needed to put your vehicle to a stop. To reduce such negative effects, anticipating the traffic and progressively brake from a further distance will be a better solution.
2. Resting your left foot on the brake pedal
Placing your left foot on the brake pedal may seem like a harmless habit, but not when you accidentally step on it while driving as usual. This leads to unnecessary usage of brakes, causing a sudden stop and wearing out the braking system that reduces its efficiency.
3. Not coasting
Unnecessary braking causes your brakes to wear out, which can be prevented through coasting. Coasting is when you decelerate your car at a slower rate just by lifting your feet off the accelerator steadily. In this case, as you approach a junction with its red light on, there might be a chance of it turning green even before reaching the traffic light. This means, there is no need for you to brake your car hence not straining your braking system.
4. Riding the brakes down a slope
While driving downhill, most drivers will want to shed some speed as they do not want to experience the thrill of riding a rollercoaster on the road. Braking for too long increases the possibility for failure of the braking system due to over-heating. However, there are other ways to reduce speed than just stepping on your brakes. By switching to a lower gear, it allows the engine to absorb some of the force and perform its job to shed some speed away. Not only manual cars, automatic cars that include a manual override mechanism allow the engaging of a lower gear.
5. Storing junk in your car
The main motivation for purchasing a vehicle is to bring you the convenience and ease of travelling compared to taking public transport. However, can you imagine bringing an entire warehouse along with you while travelling? The greater the weight of your car, the more force is required for the brakes to bring it to a stop while accelerating. It is advisable to clear your car frequently and keep it as light-weighted as possible.
6. Neglecting your brake fluids
Brake fluids are essential components that may contribute to your safety risk if they are not properly taken care of. Old brake fluids corrode the master cylinder, brake lines and pistons due to moisture. These leaks pose a danger of losing your braking power, either partially or completely. Hence, it is recommended to change your brake fluid at least once a year.
