Your Brakes And Why Preventive Maintenance Helps | Royal Moore Mazda
Whether you’re coming to a gentle stop at a red light or scrubbing off speed just before the next track corner, it’s up to your Mazda’s brakes to get the job done. Not only are they tasked with bringing your vehicle to a quick and safe stop at any given moment, but they’re also one of the precious few connections your vehicle has to the road below.
Time and usage will inevitably take their toll on your brakes, but a little preventive maintenance goes a long way towards avoiding any unwelcome surprises. Read on and learn how a proactive approach towards brake system maintenance keeps your vehicle safe and in top shape.
How Your Brakes Work
Remove the wheel on any modern sedan, pickup truck, or SUV and chances are you’ll find a disc brake setup. This consists of a brake rotor (also known as a brake disc), a caliper that surrounds part of the rotor, and friction pads within the caliper. Pistons inside the caliper help push the pads against the rotor.
Pressing the brake pedal forces a special non-compressible fluid from a nearby reservoir into the brake caliper, where it pushes against the pistons. In turn, this pushes the pads against the rotor and the friction generated by the pads helps slow and eventually stop the vehicle.
With drum brakes, the overall principle remains the same. In this setup, an internal piston pushes a pair of brake shoes outward against a rotating drum. Just like brake pads on a disc setup, the brake shoes are lined with various friction materials. While drum brakes were commonplace on vehicles up until the early 1990s, these days you’ll only find them on the rear wheels of economy vehicles.
Brake systems on today’s passenger vehicles (sedans, pickup trucks, SUVs, etc.) largely share the same components across the board, so you won’t find too many surprises when moving from one vehicle to another.
Pitfalls of Ignoring Preventive Maintenance
Most car owners don’t think about their brakes until something catastrophic happens. Unfortunately, far too many people ignore the need for preventive maintenance when it comes to their car’s brake system. The consequences of ignoring brake system maintenance can add up in many ways:
- Ignoring minor brake system faults can lead to more serious issues later on, which could prove costly and time-consuming to repair.
- A lack of preventive maintenance could potentially void your vehicle’s warranty. Most warranties are only valid as long as owners follow proper maintenance and upkeep guidelines.
- Ignoring preventive maintenance also jeopardizes your vehicle’s safety. Proper maintenance is important for ensuring your vehicle can stop safely and quickly.
Ways to Keep Your Brakes in Great Shape
Inspect Pads and Rotors Regularly
Keeping a close eye on pad and rotor wear is one of the best preventive steps you can take when it comes to your brake system. Normal wear is expected, but anything that looks, sounds, or feels out of the ordinary merits a closer look. If you notice any severe or unusual wear and tear, have your mechanic perform a more thorough inspection and take whatever steps are needed to keep your brake system in excellent condition.
Mazda recommends you have a certified technician inspect your brakes after the first 12 months or 15,000 miles of ownership, whichever comes first, and every year or at least every 15,000 miles afterward.
Check and Flush Your Brake Fluid
As with any other fluid your Mazda uses, you’ll want to check your brake fluid regularly and flush it as needed. Locate the brake fluid reservoir and make sure it’s filled to the correct fluid level as marked on the reservoir. Proper brake fluid levels are essential to proper operation.
The big issue with brake fluid is that it’s hygroscopic, which means it readily absorbs moisture. Moisture-laden brake fluid not only corrodes your brake lines and other components from the inside out but also has a lower boiling point. When brake fluid boils under hard or prolonged braking, it can cause the brake pedal to feel spongy or even go straight to the floor without slowing the vehicle.
A brake fluid flush is one of the best preventive steps you can take against corrosion, brake fade, and other problems caused by contaminated brake fluid. During the brake fluid flush, your certified technician will also bleed the brake lines to remove any excess air trapped inside the brake line.
Replace or Upgrade Brake Parts When Needed
Some brake components will need replacement as they wear out normally, while others only need to be replaced if they appear damaged or defective. Either way, you’ll want to replace these components before they have a chance to cause more damage to your brake system.
Certain situations, like regular track day jaunts or frequent trailer towing, also merit an upgrade in your Mazda’s brake hardware. For instance, switching to longer-lasting brake pads or upgrading to larger brake discs can help improve your vehicle’s stopping power.
Drive With Your Brakes in Mind
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you’re driving on the road:
- Avoid carrying excess weight in your vehicle. More weight adds more wear and tear on your brakes.
- Avoid late braking, especially when driving in stop-and-go traffic. More stops equal increased brake wear.
- Don’t ride the brakes, especially on long downhill sections. Riding the brakes can result in rapid brake fade and an increased likelihood of brake failure.
- Be mindful of how you brake when towing a trailer. Increase your following distances from other vehicles upfront and pay close attention to your driving speeds.
