Taking Care Of Your Brakes So That Your Car Is Safe To Drive

One of the most important aspects of being a car owner is taking good care of your car so it drives well and keeps you safe. You want to learn how to care for the brakes, so you can count on them to stop properly each and every time you step on them. Here are a few of the things you need to know as a car owner when it comes to caring for your car's braking system:

Make sure you stay on top of the brake fluid

If you are going to be able to count on the brakes to continue to act as they should, then it is important for you to make sure there is always the proper amount of brake fluid in the reserve. You will see a low and full line on the stick that goes into the fluid reserve. Pull it out, wipe it off, put it back in carefully and then pull it out once more to get a proper reading. The fluid should be above that low line and below that full line at all times. Add more when needed, but make sure you don't put too much in. Therefore, you want to add a little at a time and recheck the level.

Have the brakes bled when there is air in the line

If you step on the brake pedal and you find that it goes down further than it normally does then there is a good chance the brake system has air in the line. If this is the case, then you want to take the car to the shop where they will bleed the brakes for you. When they do this, it releases the air from the line. Then, they will close the line again and your brakes will work the way they are supposed to again.

Recognize the signs of your brakes needing replacement

Your brakes are designed to give you warning signs when it is time for you to take the car to the shop for them to be replaced. There is a sensor and when the pads get low this sensor will cause a squeaking or squealing sound to come from them. As soon as you start to hear this sound coming from one or more of your wheels, get the car in. If you wait too long, then the next noise you will hear is a grinding. When it reaches this point, you are driving a dangerous car you can't trust to stop when you need it to. Allowing the brakes to get to this point can also damage the rotors, so they will also need to be fixed or replaced, which will be costlier.

Contact a company like George's Eastside Shell for more information and assistance.