How Often Should My Brakes Be Checked? | Gainesville FL
How Often Should My Brakes Be Checked in Gainesville, FL
Driving a vehicle with faulty brakes isn’t just unnerving — it’s unsafe for you, your passengers and those around you. While we know our customers wouldn’t choose to drive with bad brakes as a matter of course, it’s common for drivers to be unaware of how often they should have their brakes serviced. Here at Parks Lincoln of Gainesville , our expert technicians have serviced the brakes on many Lincoln models over the years, and we’d like to share some guidance on how often you should have your brakes checked. Keep reading to learn more.
Brakes 101
Disc brakes are commonly used on today’s vehicles. They consist of a set of calipers and pads that clamp down on your vehicle’s rotors, which are connected to the wheels, whenever you press the brake pedal. The friction created between the pads and rotors slows down the vehicle. If your vehicle isn’t braking like it used to, the brake pads may be the problem. Since they wear down over time, the brake pads will need to be replaced before any damage to the rotor or other parts occurs.
Where You Drive Matters
If you often drive in a city or on busy, congested roads, your brakes will wear down faster than normal. Slowing, stopping and maneuvering through traffic causes you to heavily rely on your brakes — much more than you would while driving on quiet roads or in rural areas. It’s important to have your brakes checked at every tire rotation (around every six months), but if heavy traffic is a part of your daily commute, you might want to have them examined at every oil change.
Listen to Your Car
Your vehicle can also tell you a lot about the health of your brakes, so it’s important to listen to your car. In between scheduled checks, watch for your dashboard brake light, but stay aware of how your vehicle behaves as well. If it’s taking a while for your vehicle to come to a complete stop, you might have brake pad issues. This can also be true if your vehicle vibrates when you press the brake pedal (though vibration can also signal an alignment problem). Finally, don’t ignore squealing brakes — that means the brake pads are wearing thin. The longer you drive with squealing brakes, the more damage will be done as the calipers grind against the rotors. It’s best to schedule brake service as soon as you hear a squeal when braking.
Stay Alert, Stay Safe
We take pride in offering more than just high-quality new Lincoln vehicles and pre-owned models — we also offer expert service. You, your passengers and your vehicle are our highest priorities, and at each service appointment, our team works hard to ensure you drive home in a thoroughly safe and reliable vehicle. If you think it’s time to have your brakes checked, make a service appointment today.
Parks Lincoln of Gainesville is here for all your automotive needs. We’re located at 3333 North Main St., Gainesville, FL 32609 . As always, we look forward to serving our customers from Gainesville, FL, and throughout Alachua, Starke, Ocala and Lake City.