The Effects Of Slamming On Your Brakes
Published April 5th, 2018
Traffic jams on the way to work may be annoying for a number of reasons, but have you ever considered how the constant stopping and starting can affect the condition of your brake pads and your tyres? It’s true, and it can affect your brake pads far sooner than their predicted life span, which is generally around 40,000km.
Here’s what you need to know about what happens when you constantly slam on your brakes:
- Your tyres
Forceful acceleration and braking can lead to a reduction of your tyre traction. The reason for this is that when you brake, your tyres still move a few metres ahead, and it is at this point where the wear on your tyre treads take the most impact. This is the same for acceleration.
- Your drive shaft
Over-braking or braking unnecessarily affects your drive shaft because it can cause the ball in the socket to shift. If this occurs more and more, eventually the drive shaft will wear out. You’ll notice this if you hear a cranking sound, especially when turning a corner.
- Your brake tubes
Brake fluid flows to the pads from the brake tubes. Excessive braking can eventually cause those tubes to burst. If this happens, it can be very dangerous because a leakage will cause the brakes to become unusable and they will not be able to perform their imperative duty.
- Our advice
When in traffic, of course you must stop and start – this you cannot control. However, you need to try to keep your car moving instead of coming to a complete stop and then reaccelerating. This will prevent the unneeded traction on your tyres, as well as alleviate the pressure on your brake pads and tubes. The best way to do this is to accelerate and brake slowly so the car is in afluid motion, rather than speeding off and coming to a grinding halt.
Now that you’re aware of the effects that slamming on your brakes can have on various aspects of your vehicle, you’ll be more conscious of caring for them when driving in those peak mornings and afternoon commutes to and from work. Of course, always use your brakes as required and dopress on hard on them if you need to in particular situations – after all, this safety feature is the purpose of allowing you to stop.
For more information or if you want professional advice about the condition of your brakes, contact ustoday.
Related Tag: Brake Repairs Melbourne