How to Improve the Life of Your Brake Pads
The best brake pads in the world can still have a short lifespan if they incur unnecessary strain. How you drive your car has a lot to do with how long your brake pads will last. Some people may get 25,000 to 50,000 miles out of their brake pads, while others may get between 50,000 to 100,000 miles out of them. It all depends on how much they get worn down by your braking practices.
The Top 5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Brake Pads
Brake pads incur natural wear and tear each time you step on the brake pedal. If you’re still driving a gasoline-based vehicle with hydraulic brakes, significant wear and tear gets put on the brake pads with each braking action. But there are specific things you can do to extend the life of your brake pads and ensure you get the most use out of them possible.
1) No Hard Braking
Fast driving doesn’t affect your brake pads unless you slow down quickly. For instance, if you’re driving 60 mph and some large object lies in your path on the road, you may feel compelled to step on the brake pedal hard to slow down and avoid it. Unfortunately, such actions will significantly wear down your brake pads and shorten their lifespan.
Braking should be a slow, gradual process. When you step on the brake pedal, apply gentle pressure to slow down the vehicle.
2) Remove Unnecessary Weight
Vehicles with heavy loads can add more strain to their brake pads. So try to remove heavy cargo and personal possessions you may be hauling in your vehicle. However, be wary of installing aftermarket parts in your car because they could weigh more than the OEM parts.
3) Conduct Brake Inspections
Faulty brake components can accelerate the wear and tear on your brake pads. That is why you should have a mechanic perform brake inspections periodically. Then you can have peace of mind knowing your brake pads are not incurring unnecessary strain due to faulty components. If they are, then replace the brake components causing the problems.
4) Replace Brake Fluid
Your vehicle’s braking system relies on brake fluid the same way that engines rely on oil. Quality brake fluid lubricates the wheel cylinders and brake calipers to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. But if you don’t replace the brake fluid periodically, your brake components will inflict more strain on the brake pads.
Therefore, replace your brake fluid at least every 30,000 miles or whatever is recommended by your manufacturer or professional auto mechanic.
5) Purchase Galvanized Brake Pads
Of course, it helps if you equip your vehicle’s braking system with the best brake pads possible from the beginning. That is why you should install galvanized brake pads with premium friction materials and NRS technology because they can last up to 100,000 miles with good driving and braking practices.
Galvanized brake pads feature durable friction material firmly secured to a zinc-plated steel plate for maximum strength and longevity. They are perfect to use in heavier vehicles like electric cars and hybrid cars. Our NRS Brakes store has the finest selection of galvanized brake pads for numerous make and model vehicles.