How to Extend the Life of Your Brakes

Since the brakes are undoubtedly the most important part of your BMW, you want them to be in peak form for a long time.

Therefore, it’s vital to know how to extend the life of your brakes. While there are many ways to do this, below are the top tips from BMW of Stratham. Read through them, then contact us for service near Stratham, Portsmouth, or Exeter.

Follow these steps to extend the life of our brakes:

1. Slow Down
2. Use One Foot for the Brakes
3. Make the Car as Light as Possible
4. Follow Your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule

1. Slow Down.

You have places to be, which can lead to driving a bit quicker around town. However, you can’t control the flow of traffic and when other cars are braking.

The last thing you want to do, though, is speed up and then slam on the brakes. Generally, the faster you’re driving, the more effort is needed by the braking system to bring your car to a stop. It actually takes 33 percent more energy to stop the car from 65 MPH vs. 55 MPH. All in all, this would lead to wearing down the brakes faster than normal.

So, be patient, take your time, and coast along nicely to bring your BMW to a smooth and gradual stop.

2. Use One Foot for the Brakes.

When you go to use the brakes, keep it to one foot only. You never want to press on the brake pedal with your left foot while pushing the gas with your right foot at the same time.

This is also known as brake riding and can quickly wear down the brake pads and warp the brake rotors. Essentially, this is why you’ll want to coast along as much as possible. If you’re traveling downhill, put the car in a lower gear, then apply the brakes with light pressure when needed.

By doing this, you can still slow down safely while maintaining the quality of your brakes.

3. Make the Car as Light as Possible.

It may come as a surprise, but your car’s weight and the brakes directly affect each other.

When you add more weight into the vehicle—be it through people or cargo—the brakes need to work harder to come to a stop. Therefore, you’ll want to carry only the necessary items inside your BMW while leaving everything else behind.

You could also consider getting a lighter vehicle in general. Take a look at various curb weights (the weight before adding any people or cargo) to help determine which car would work for you. By selecting an automobile that weighs less, it’ll be easier on the brakes as well as the tires and fuel, too.

4. Follow Your Vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule.

In order to make your brakes last as long as possible, it’s crucial to keep up with your car’s maintenance schedule.

The exact time that you need service can vary by model. However, when that time comes, a technician will complete the following work:

• Clean the brake pad contact points, check the brake disc surfaces, and examine the thickness of brake pads.
• Check brake fluid and add or replace as needed.
• Examine brake lines and clutch system connectors for leaks, damage, and proper positioning.
• Check positioning and movement of parking brake cables.

If you put off this service, your brakes can start to fail, which could be dangerous on the road. Therefore, you’ll want to check your owner’s manual for the appropriate maintenance interval and schedule service right away.

Schedule Brake Service Today

These are just some of the many ways that you can extend the life of your brakes. For more tips, contact BMW of Stratham.

Then, if you need brake service at any point, we can help! Schedule service at our BMW dealership near Stratham, Portsmouth, and Exeter, and we’ll get your brakes like new again in no time.