How Often Should My Brakes Be Checked? | Albertville AL | Near Boaz, Guntersville, Scottsboro, Rainbow City & Gadsden

Is It Time to Check Your Brakes?

Wondering if you should get your brakes checked or can’t remember the last time the brake pads were replaced? Since brakes are one of the most essential components of your vehicle, keeping up with their maintenance and paying attention to their performance is key. Our team is here to help! We’ve provided a guide below that will hopefully answer your questions and help you know when it’s time to bring your Toyota to our Toyota Service Center and have one of our experienced technicians take a look.

A Primer on Brakes.

Your vehicle probably has what are called disc brakes. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, a set of calipers with brake pads squeezes the rotors. This causes friction, which results in your vehicle slowing down and stopping. As a part of a hydraulic system, your brakes need a consistent flow of brake fluid to work properly. If any component isn’t working correctly, the entire system may malfunction.

Often, the cause of braking issues can be traced to worn-down brake pads. Brake pads should be at least quarter of an inch thick, so once they start to wear out, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible to avoid damaging the rotor.

 

Location Matters.

If you live in an area that is heavily congested, be mindful that this can have a more significant impact on your brakes than if you lived in an area with lighter traffic. Driving through heavy traffic will require more stopping, starting, slowing down and changing lanes, which will put more strain on your vehicle’s brakes. As a result, they’ll wear down more quickly, requiring more frequent maintenance.

A safe recommendation is to get your brakes checked every six months. You can do this at the same time that you get your tires rotated. If you tend to be an aggressive driver, you may want to get them inspected more frequently, perhaps with every oil change. But always keep an eye out for warning signs between these service visits.

 

Warning Signs.

Has the brake light come on in your dashboard recently? That’s a sure sign to schedule a service appointment and bring your vehicle in so we can take a look. Is your vehicle taking longer than it should to come to a complete stop? That’s another sign that they should be checked. Does pressing the brake pedal create a vibrating sensation? Sounds like the brake pads need to be replaced, or it could indicate an alignment issue. Either way, schedule a service appointment so we can fix the issue.

Brakes usually indicate when the brake pads are wearing down with a squealing or screeching sound. This sound means the calipers are grinding against your rotors. If you hear that awful metal-on-metal sound, you’ll know it’s time to replace the brake pads. Catching this problem sooner rather than later can avoid further damages and expenses.

 

Be Smart. Be Vigilant. Be Safe.

You can rely on Sand Mountain Toyota as your local automotive resource. We’re here to help you keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance, answer any questions you may have about your vehicle’s performance and address any issues your vehicle may be experiencing. We want you to enjoy your driving experience to the fullest while staying safe behind the wheel. We’ll make sure all the parts of your Toyota are kept in optimal condition so it can remain the reliable vehicle it was designed to be. Schedule a service appointment with us today!

Sand Mountain Toyota is located at 9167 US Highway 431, Albertville, AL 35950. We look forward to serving our customers from Boaz, Guntersville, Scottsboro, Rainbow City and Gadsden.