Importance of Good Brakes on Your Vehicle and How Can You Maintain Them?

Car maintenance involves many aspects of which one brake maintenance is. Let us find out more about maintaining car brakes. 

Importance of Brake Maintenance

If there is one safety feature in a vehicle, whether it is a car, bus, truck or a two-wheeler, it is the brakes. When you press the brake pedal or brake lever in a two-wheeler a whole unit of components works together in perfect unison to bring your vehicle to a stop or slow down. It is quite simple; brakes save your life and therefore, it is important to ensure that the brakes in your vehicle are in pristine condition. The entire braking mechanism needs to be checked regularly starting from the brake lever, to the brake wire, the brake shoes, and the brake fluids.

In the absence of good brakes, the worst could happen. Let’s check out a few problems that could arise in the absence of good brakes. 

• Physical Harm: The first and foremost danger of not having good brakes on your vehicle is the physical harm that may be caused to either you or anyone involved in any resulting accident. The physical harm might even result in the death of the people involved in the accident. Not a desirable outcome to say the least. Even if the injuries are not fatal, certain injuries can cause severe discomfort which may last a lifetime. Some injuries are even permanent and may cause disabilities that could turn a person’s life upside down.

• Mental Trauma: An accident is a nerve-wracking experience. You may not only bear physical injuries which may or may not be permanent, but the physical trauma associated with it cannot be overlooked. People involved in accidents have been known to develop a phobia of driving or getting into a car. In cases of permanent injuries, the mental health of the person is also affected. Patients go into a depression resulting in a difficult life ahead.

• Associated Costs: The cost of hospitalization, treatment, and the subsequent rehabilitation of the injured people can be really taxing. Along with medical costs, you will have to bear costs of repairs because not all the costs for repairs are covered under insurance. Additionally, if there is a third party involved in an accident, the cost of litigation and compensation can break you.

• The loss in Terms of Employment Opportunities: If a person is involved in a job that requires a certain physical activity to be accomplished and after the accident, the person is unable to perform these activities anymore, either temporarily or permanently then it could result in loss of employment. 

With so much to lose, there is no wisdom in being careless about the brakes of your vehicle. Listed below are a few points to help you maintain your car brakes. 

How to Take Care of Your Brakes?

• Have your brakes checked regularly? brakes comprise various components such as brake shoes, brake wires, and brake fluids. While you should regularly check the level of your brake fluids, you can get your brakes shoes, wires, and pedals or levers checked during every service.

• Listen to your vehicles. Pay attention to the hints it gives you. If you have a feeling that the brakes may not be working properly, it would be wise to go and get them checked.

• Good driving practices can help you improve the life of your brakes. Slowing down before making a turn by resting your foot on the gas pedal as well as driving well within the prescribed speed limit, especially in crowded areas can be helpful. 

By taking certain precautions you can ensure that your brakes are in optimum condition and you can avoid getting into any precarious situation.