Top 4 things to know about how to maintain your truck’s disc brakes
You rely on your truck to get you to work every day. Driving in traffic requires you to pay attention to other vehicles as well as your surroundings. When the lights at an intersection turn green you step on the gas and continue your journey but suddenly someone pulls out in front of you unexpectedly and you slam on your brakes. You hear a huge squealing sound. Is it possible something is wrong with your brakes? Here is how to maintain the disc brakes of your truck tires to ensure they work when you need them the most.
1. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation
Your truck likely has a disc brakes maintenance guide section in the manufacturer vehicle instruction manual. Reading over each section of the manual will help you familiarize yourself with the vehicles’ parts and service recommendations. If your truck happens to be missing this guide, you can contact a dealership to get a replacement one or in most cases, you should be able to find a downloadable document online.
2. Listen to the sounds coming from your wheels
When your brakes are working correctly you should not hear any unusual sounds when coming to a stop. Telltale signs of worn brakes are things like squeaking, squealing, grinding metal, or hissing sounds.
If you hear a hissing sound, you likely need to add brake fluid. All other sounds are usually an indication that your brakes need to be replaced. It is best to have your brakes checked by a certified mechanic when you initially hear a squealing or squeaking. If a grinding sound is audible, it means your brake pads are finished and you may need to replace the rotors too.
3. Avoid slamming on your brakes
Sure, every so often you need to make a quick stop that requires you to slam your foot on the brake pedal. If you find yourself slamming your brakes on all the time, you may find yourself damaging your disc brakes and needing to replace them more often. Disc brakes normally require replacement somewhere between 50,000 km to 80,000 km, but that will depend on how you drive. Let your vehicle come to a gentle rolling stop when applying your brakes lightly when possible to avoid having to change them because of overuse.
4. Break sensors
Many vehicles now are equipped with brake sensors that tell you something is wrong with your brakes. These sensors require calibration every time you get your brakes replaced. If you know how to maintain the disc brakes of your truck tires and are familiar with the mechanical workings of your vehicle, you may be able to do the work yourself, but it is best to have a professional automotive technician perform the service for you.
Your brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle and you want to make sure they work when you need them.
Get your vehicle checked regularly to make sure everything is running smoothly. It is less costly to maintain a vehicle than to have to replace parts that have been abused or ignored.
