Looking after your brakes

While you can expect to change your front brake pads and disks due to wear, the rears are more likely to succumb to corrosion as they bear a lot less of the load under braking. Your driving style can have a dramatic effect on the life time of the pads and disks but the type of journeys you do will also affect wear and this cannot be avoided. At the end of the day, you can expect them to wear out at some point but there are a few things that can be done to avoid a premature brake change.

As a lot of heat builds up due to friction under braking, the disks can become warped under certain conditions. Warped disks will need replacing and pads must be changed as well, which could be quite costly. Avoid braking for long periods while going downhill as this causes excessive heat to build up. Use a lower gear to slow the car through engine braking. After heavy braking, don’t sit with the brakes engaged as this could cause the disks to warp as they cool.