How Often Should You Have Your Car’s Brakes Checked?

Regularly scheduled maintenance is one of the best things you can do to keep your car running smoothly.

A car that has been properly maintained is less likely to break down or need an expensive repair.

However, even if you have been diligent about your vehicle’s upkeep, unexpected problems can still arise.

Your car’s brakes are one of its most crucial components and should be checked on a regular basis by your mechanic to avoid costly repairs in the near future.

Brakes are usually checked at the beginning of a maintenance schedule, before any major work is done on the vehicle.

If your car has been properly maintained and you have not experienced issues with the brakes, they should be checked once a year, or even every 2,000 miles.

What Should You Look for When Inspecting Your Car’s Brakes?

There are several things to look for when inspecting your car’s brakes.

First, make sure the brake pads are not worn down to the point where they can no longer stop your vehicle.

The pads should be about an inch thick, and the rotors should be shiny. If the pads are worn down too far, you will need to replace them.

Additionally, make sure the brake fluid is clean and does not look milky or cloudy.

If it does, it is probably dirty and should be flushed out. If the fluid is milky, it is low on fluid and needs to be replaced. If the fluid is dirty, it can cause contamination in the brake system and should be flushed out.

How to Test Your Car’s Brakes

There are two ways to test your car’s brakes:

The visual test and the pedal test.

The visual test is simply looking at the condition of the brake pads and rotors.

If there are any visible signs of wear or damage, it is time to replace the pads and rotors.

The pedal test is more complicated. You need to be careful because applying too much force to the pedal can cause damage to the system.

When testing the pedal, you should be able to depress it about half the distance that the vehicle travels when it hits the brakes.

If you are not sure how to do this, you can find a video online that walks you through the steps.

How Often You Should Replace Your Car’s Brakes

The general rule is that you should replace your brake pads once every 15,000 miles.

However, this number can vary depending on the size and type of vehicle.

For example, passenger cars usually have thinner brake pads and require replacement every 10,000 miles.

Your mechanic can tell you what your specific requirements are based on the make and model of your car.

Bottom line

It’s important to keep up with regular maintenance for your car to avoid any expensive repairs in the future.

Your brakes are one of the most crucial parts of your car, so it’s important to have them checked regularly by a mechanic.

Most brake checks are done at the beginning of a maintenance schedule, but if your car is in good shape, they can be done once a year or every 2,000 miles. Maintaining your car mindfully is one of the best things you can do for it.

Keeping track of maintenance intervals, buying parts, and watching your car for symptoms can be quite a hassle.

Consider signing up for an extended warranty or a maintenance plan to help keep track of your maintenance.