BETHESDA, MD — The Car Care Council is helping to drive home the importance of a properly maintained brake system during “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day,” conducted by the National Society of Professional Engineers on Oct. 10.
“A well-maintained brake system is critical to the safety of a vehicle and its passengers,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “Annual brake inspections not only help keep your car safe, but preventative maintenance can identify problems early before they turn into costly problems that can occur by delaying brake service.”
It is recommended that brake systems should be inspected annually or every 8,000 to 10,000 miles. A professional automotive technician can check brake lining wear, brake fluid level, hoses and lines, brake pedal travel, brake and dash warning lights and take the car for a test drive to detect other potential brake system problems.
In between inspections, drivers should be alert to signs of brake trouble. If the car is pulling to the left or right, or if odd noises are heard when the brakes are applied, the brakes will need to be inspected by a professional automotive technician. Other warning signs include brake grabbing, low pedal feel, vibration, hard pedal feel and squealing.
For more information about preventative vehicle maintenance, visit the Car Care Council’s Web site at carcare.org. In addition, as part of the “Be Car Care Aware” education campaign, the Car Care Council offers a free service interval schedule to help take the guesswork out of what vehicle systems need to be routinely inspected and when service or repair should be performed. The schedule can be printed from the Web site.
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