The cold affects every part of your car especially your brakes. Make sure you know what signs to look out for to keep them running smoothly and get your breaks winter ready.

Exposed to the Elements

Your vehicle is more susceptible to damage in winter because of the extreme weather and dropping temperatures, but no part is more exposed than the brakes. This is why it’s so important to make sure you understand what effects the weather can have on your brakes, and how to spot problems before they become serious.

How to Get Your Brakes Winter Ready – Common Problems for Brakes in Winter

Wear on Brake Pads

In British winter, road conditions get quite rough, and are often wet, slippery and hazardous. To keep yourself from sliding too much or getting into an accident, it’s very likely that you will end up using your brakes more often when driving than you would in warmer months. The issue with this, is that you might be overheating your brakes, which can cause them to wear more quickly and need replacing sooner.

If you notice that your brakes are squeaking, this is an indicator that your brake pads may be worn down and could need replacing soon. If this squeaking noise becomes a grinding sound, then you may have worn your brake pads down completely and causing serious damage to your brake discs.

Brake Fluid – Levels & Contaminants

It is the job of brake fluid to amplify the effects of the brakes and make sure that they work properly. In general, you should be checking the brake fluid level of your vehicle once a month, possibly more in the winter as you’ll be using your brakes more heavily, and you can top this up yourself if this runs below the minimum levels.

Be careful when topping up brake fluid yourself, and remember that your mechanic will always be happy to help you with this, as allowing dirt or grit into your brake fluid will make it less effective and less able to withstand high pressures. Likewise, if any water gets into the brake fluid, it will dilute it and make it more susceptible to the cold, which can lead it to freeze and expand inside the brake line, potentially rupturing it.

Brake Lines

Even if you are careful when topping up brake fluids, foreign contaminants can still enter the brake line over time. If this happens, this can obstruct the brake lines and stop them from working properly. If you find that your brakes are not working as well as they should, or your brake fluid is running out faster than usual, it may be a sign that there is damage or a leak in the brake line, and you should have this checked over by a mechanic as soon as possible. Brakes are your primary safety feature when you’re behind the wheel, and any differences you feel when driving or a reduction in the brakes effectiveness should always be checked.

Rust & Mud – the perks of winter

To keep you safe from ice and snow, roads are gritted throughout the winter, but this can have an adverse effect on your brakes. After a long drive on recently-gritted roads, your brake discs can become covered in salt and water, which will probably remain there for the entire time that your car is parked. With brake discs being made from metal, this is a big problem as they are susceptible to corrosion, and you will probably be able to notice spots of rust on your brakes not long after. A few spots of rust are fine, but if you notice this growing, you should check with your local garage as they may need replacing.

If it’s not snow and ice, you can be sure that a British winter will bring with it more rain, and rain leads to mud. Driving through mud regularly can result in mud sticking to the brake calliper, which will affect brake performance. If there is a thick layer of mud adhered to your brake calliper, you might notice that your vehicle feels like it is constantly braking, and that it’s more difficult to control the speed of your car. If you notice any of these side effects, it’s best to have your brakes checked, even if all they need is a good cleaning.

Brakes Are Worth the Trouble

Keeping on top of your regular vehicle maintenance can easily feel like an uphill battle, and unfortunately, there is not a great deal that you can do to prevent the damage that can be done to your brakes during the winter. The best way to prepare is to make regular brake checks a part of your routine and to keep on top of maintenance.

Remember, brakes are there to keep you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road safe, and it is much cheaper to pay to have your brake pads replaced than to replace your entire front end because you got into an accident. By making sure that your brakes are operating at their maximum efficiency, you’re giving yourself the best chance to help them survive the winter unscathed and keep your vehicle in one piece.

For any routine inspections, to replace brake parts or to get your breaks winter-ready, please contact us to book an appointment, and we will happily help you out.