Having to take your vehicle into a shop that does brake inspections and repair can end up being costly if you haven't been taking proper care of your car. Your brakes are one of your most frequently used and obviously important parts of your car. Here are some tips to make sure you can extend the life of your brakes and keep your vehicle out of the auto repair shop for as long as possible.

Brakes Have Fluid Too

Everyone knows they should change their engine oil on a regular basis. But did you know that your brakes have fluid that needs to be switched out too? You should change your brake fluid every 18 months to 2 years, or more often if you drive quite a bit. Stick with a high quality fluid suggested by your car manufacturer. 

Learn to Coast

Many drivers have a bad habit of hitting the brake pedal every single time they want to slow down. But you put wear and tear on your brake pad every time that this happens. Learn to do what many people call coasting: slow down by simply easing your foot off the gas and letting the car slow down on its own. Obviously, be ready to hit the brakes at any time if needed, but you may soon find that you don't need the brakes as often as you thought.

Give Yourself Ample Room on the Highway to Avoid Sudden Stops

The one thing that can really shorten your brake life is sudden stops from a high speed. When your brakes attempt to slow your car, all of that energy from your forward momentum is taken out on your brake pads. This transfer of energy can really burn those pads up fast if you do it frequently. You will understandably sometimes need to do this in emergencies, but try to always give yourself decent space behind the car in front of you so that you can react without having to slam the pedal down.

Brakes can be an expensive repair. In order to extend your brake life, change the fluid on a regular basis, give yourself room to avoid sudden stops and learn to slow the car by easing off of the gas instead of always hitting the brake pedal. You should still be taking your car in for an annual inspection at a shop like Alignment Center, which will include a look at your brakes, but if you follow these tips, you should be able to avoid a costly repair.