Why it's important to get your brakes serviced

It goes without saying that the brakes are one of the most important safety features of any car. When it comes to braking in an emergency, seconds count. Regularly serviced brakes can mean the difference between a serious accident or a successfully avoided near-miss.

Your car's brake response time and effectiveness can be directly attributed to the state that your brakes are in. Regularly maintained, serviced and repaired brakes are incredibly important when it comes to avoiding disaster on the road.

Worn or damaged brakes can cause damage to other parts of your car. A car's brake system works in tandem with your vehicle's hydraulic system, which is activated whenever pressure is put on the brake pedal.

These systems are made up of many different complicated parts, such as brake fluids, brake pads and metal rotors, to name a few. When one of these parts is not regularly maintained and serviced, it’s incredibly easy for something to stop working and things to go wrong.

By simply replacing any worn brake pads, you can ensure that the steel backing plate behind the pads is not exposed. Exposed backing plates can lead to warping and scratched rotors, which can end up being an expensive issue to fix.

If brakes are neglected, it’s easy for other parts of your car such as the disc or tyres to become damaged due to an inadequate or ineffectual brake system. Avoid this by getting regular brake services.

Many people will not get their brakes checked or serviced until they see the little red light pop up on their dashboard. This light is an indicator that you should get a professional to check your brakes as soon as possible. However, there are other signs to ascertain if you need to go and get your brakes serviced. These signs can include:

A screeching or squealing sound when you are stopping
A steering wheel that shudders when you brake
Stiff brakes
Your car taking longer than normal to stop
A grinding noise or vibration when you put pressure on the brake pedal

If you haven’t noticed any of these signs, it’s still a good idea to get into the habit of getting your brakes serviced every 6 months or so. This will ensure that not only are you going to catch any possible safety issues fast, but it will help maintain the good condition of the entire vehicle.