No one looks forward to coming in for a brake job. But, explaining to customers how to extend the life of their brakes and save money is a no-brainer. It builds trust and loyalty. From a pure safety issue, remind customers that brake pads and hardware last an average of 35,000 to 45,000 miles and should always be checked at that point.
Below are four tips to save your customers’ brakes and their money.
1. Slow Down
Driving fast may be fun, but brakes pay the price. Stopping from high speeds is the #1 enemy of brakes and will wear them out faster than anything. The energy and heat produced from repeated stopping at high speeds kill brakes before their time.
2. Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
Hearing brake noises or feeling weird vibrations when driving is a symptom of what could be a serious problem. Waiting too long to get the problem diagnosed is not only unsafe, but also poor money management since, in the end, they’ll most likely spend more money to repair the damage.
Putting old brake hardware on new brake pads is another foolish move. It costs less than $20 for new brake hardware, which has been proven to extend the life of new pads and reduce noise.
3. Ride like a Roller Coaster
You know how roller coasters use the energy from the beginning to speed through lots of twists and turns? The same principle applies to cars. Coasting without braking preserves the brakes and extends their life.
4. Mom Was Right: Buy Quality
Buying cheap brake pads or sticking old hardware on new ones causes the pads to wear out quickly and does nothing about the noise of squeaky brakes. Quality brake components, especially brake clips, have special features to reduce drag and noise. Customers need to be shown which pads and hardware are right for them and why they need new brake hardware.
Courtesy of Carlson Quality Brake Parts.