Few things are scarier than having your brakes go out on you when you’re driving. That’s why it’s always important to have your brakes inspected. Most of the time, your mechanic, whether you go to a family-owned shop like us at Main Street Automotive, or you choose a big dealer group, will inspect your brakes when you come in for routine maintenance, like your oil change for example.
With this regular check, it’s easy to spot any issues and alert you so that we can keep you safe on the road. So when you’re told that you should get your brake system flushed, it’s not a ploy to make you part with your hard-earned money. It’s something you should do for your safety.
Braking systems are more detailed than you think. They have rubber in the valves plus the calipers and wheel cylinders can deteriorate. All those bits flake off and they wind up in your brake fluid. The brake fluid is also subject to wear and tear. Plus, when moisture gets into your system, it can cause rust and create more debris in the brake fluid. When this happens, it compromises your braking system’s effectiveness, resulting in a decrease in topping power.
Just as you shouldn’t skip oil changes, you shouldn’t skip getting a brake flush. It’s best to do it every 30,000 miles though so if you go to a bigger automotive dealership shop and they tell you to do it when your car only has 10,000 miles on it, you can feel good about declining. But if your car has 30,000 miles on it or more, take that advice to heart and agree to the brake flush, otherwise you could wind up having your brakes go out on you when you need them most.
Incidentally, brake flushing is different from bleeding the brakes. When we flush your brakes, we remove all the brake fluid from your system and replace it with brand new, clean fluid. Brake bleeding involves removing some of the brake fluid, usually enough to get the air bubbles out. The difference is huge. Make sure you’re going for that brake flush every 30,000 miles, and make sure you have it performed by certified and trusted mechanics.
Even if it hasn’t been 30,000 miles though, if you feel that your vehicle’s stopping power isn’t on par with how it should be, please don’t wait. Bring it to us at Main Street Automotive so we can put your mind at ease. Many things can happen with your brakes and you don’t want to take them for granted. Without brakes, driving would be a very scary experience. Let’s keep you safe by taking a look and making sure your entire braking system is working right. Stop by today!
