The lower the stress on your brakes, the farther they’ll take you. Which is why it is important to know what to do and what not to do when braking. A compromised braking system is risky for you and your car in two ways. When brakes don’t work well, driving at speed is the last thing you want, and left unattended, the problem could spiral out of control, leading to more damage and costly repairs. Here are 5 tips for smoother braking and better stopping power.
1. Keep Legs closer to the pads
Stomping on your pedal puts braking components to sudden pressure. If this becomes a normal habit, chances are you’ll increase the rate of wear and experience poorer braking performance in the long run. By keeping your legs closer to the pad, you ensure braking components run smoothly when you apply the pedal, which is key to consistent performance and longer-lasting hardware. A shorter foot-pedal distance will also minimize the chances of missing the pedal if you need to make an emergency stop.
2. Don’t wait too close before braking
Another way to slow down smoothly is to apply your brakes ahead of traffic, stop signs or bends, etc. This eases the pressure on your brakes and thus minimizes the pressure on wearable braking parts.
3. Don’t stomp on your brakes
If your goal is to drive and stop smoothly, then not hard-pressing the brake pedal is one way to get started. Keep track of the next car ahead of you so you minimize putting your brakes to forceful use in an emergency situation. You also want to keep a safe distance from the car in front. This gives you plenty of time to think and act before stomping on your brakes becomes a resort.
4. Use Your Brake Lights Effectively
The brake lights are there so you can signal your next driving decision to other drivers. And it’s important you use them. If you suddenly make a turn without using the lights, you risk getting your car knocked from the rear. And even more so if the next car is coming at speed.
5. The gas pedal instead
If there’s traffic ahead, you can decrease speed by letting off the gas pedal before you need to brake. Since you might end up not braking if traffic starts to move, you put your brakes to less use, thus increasing the mileage they will take you before they collapse.
