Every new car that arrives on the market seems to boast some amazing new safety feature which is, of course, a good thing. But did you know that the most important safety feature on your vehicle is the brakes?
We know our brakes are important, but we often forget how crucial it is to have them regularly inspected and serviced.
The braking system on your car is very complex and there are many different components which need to be working well. To ensure these components are being inspected correctly, you should always take your vehicle to a brake specialist on the Sunshine Coast.
Brake Specialist Sunshine Coast
When you put your foot on the brake pedal, you are activating the delivery of brake fluid to engage the brake pads which are fitted to the brake caliper. This causes the friction with then slows and stops your vehicle.
Of course, that’s a very simplistic description; there’s a lot more to the braking system than that, and many parts that can wear out or require brake repairs on the Sunshine Coast.
Your brakes should be checked regularly, especially if you experience any of the following:
- Your vehicle pulls left or right when braking
- The brake pedal feels soft or sloppy
- The steering wheel shudders when you apply the brakes
- Your vehicle is taking longer to stop
- Your brakes are screeching or squealing
- Brake warning lights appear on your dashboard
The most common problem with brakes is that the pads have worn thin. That’s often the cause of those nasty screeching sounds you may hear – its metal rubbing against metal, or the brake calipers rubbing the tyre.
Shuddering through the steering wheel could be caused by a problem with the brake rotors, whilst the vehicle pulling to the side could be a stuck brake caliper. The latter could also be caused by poorly aligned wheels and tyres – another factor you should have checked regularly.
Apart from simply forgetting about it, the main reason drivers don’t get their brakes checked regularly is the perceived cost. The fact is, the longer you leave it, the more expensive it’s likely to become. It’s far cheaper to replace worn brake pads than fix the damage caused to other components by metal scraping against metal.
Brake Repairs Sunshine Coast
There’s also the other cost to consider – the risk of an accident. Nobody even likes to think about their brakes failing but it does happen. There are any number of factors that could cause this to happen, from worn pads to loss of brake fluid.
The most common accidents caused by faulty brakes are rear end collisions, loss of control and accidents involving pedestrians. Any one of those could result in serious injury or death.
There’s another side to this that we don’t often think about. Quite often car owners know their brakes need replacing but just ‘don’t get around to it’. However, because they are aware of the problem, they may over-compensate when braking.
Voiding your Insurance
Hard or reckless braking is equally as dangerous to yourself and other road users and can also cause serious damage to your vehicles steering and suspension. Other causes of hard braking are speeding and tailgating.
Here’s something else you may not have considered, which should have you racing to see a brake specialist on the Sunshine Coast. Knowingly driving with faulty brakes can void your insurance if you are involved in an accident. You could also be sued by any victims.
To maintain your car insurance, it is essential that your vehicle is regularly serviced, and any problems are repaired. If you fail to do this, your car could be considered a non-roadworthy vehicle. This also includes worn or dangerous tyres.
You can also be stopped by the police and prosecuted for driving with faulty brakes.
It’s important to remember that the most efficient braking occurs when the brake pads press against a smooth disc rotor. Over time, your brake pads can become worn and pitted, which will affect how they work.
Always Choose a Professional
When you take your vehicle to a professional for brake repairs on the Sunshine Coast, they have the right equipment to smooth worn disc rotators. This should only ever be done by a professional to ensure minimal pad thickness is maintained.
If you drive a European vehicle, you need to be extra vigilant about servicing and repairs. It’s advisable to have your brake pads and rotors replaced at the same time. It’s also very important that the correct parts are used.
The good news is that the braking systems on European vehicles are probably the best in the world. In fact, the safest cars to buy in 2019 include the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Audi A6, Volvo V60, BMW X5, the Jaguar I-Pace and the Volkswagen Touareg.
So, next time you consider giving a car service a miss, you may wish to look at the bigger picture and realise its money well-spent.
