Fall will be here in just a few days, and even though it doesn’t quite feel like the temperature got the memo, it’s time to start getting your car ready for a new season. As I was driving last week, I thought about how the season changes a lot more than just the temperature outside, like how I drive my vehicle in general. In fact, with fall approaching and school starting, I find my work commute a little longer, with several more stops involved along the way. Don’t get me wrong, I generally don’t mind traffic, but it did get me thinking about how much more I have to use my brakes in the congestion.

The brake system in your mobile palace is much more intricate and involved than one might ever want to know or read about, but I want to give you a quick overview to prove a couple of points. Your brake system is made up of disk brakes in the front and either disk or drum brakes in the rear, which are connected by tubes and hoses that link the brake at each wheel to your car’s master cylinder. Every time you push on the brakes, you are pushing against a plunger that sends brake fluid through those tubes and hoses to the braking unit at each of your car’s wheels. This fluid ultimately causes the piston to squeeze the two brake pads against the rotor that is attached to the wheel, forcing it to slow or stop your vehicle.

I give you this mini automotive lesson to make two points. The first point is that there is more to your vehicle’s brake system than you might have previously thought and the second is that as a cautious driver, you must be aware of the various parts of the brake system that need to be checked during your regular maintenance.

For all of us Garage Gals who are responsible for taking our mobile palaces to get serviced, it is important to request that our brake system be checked, in particular the brake fluid. The brake fluid, which is vital to the brake system, generally needs to be changed every two years because the fluid can start absorbing moisture and the water can break down the hydroscopic properties of the fluid causing spongy, soft brakes and in extreme situations, brake failure.

The analogy I like to use about brakes is that they are like the extra change of clothes you bring in your carry-on bag during a flight; you really don’t appreciate them until you need them! In that moment when the car in front of you swerves or a child runs out into the street, you can be grateful for a properly running brake system. For me, spending a little extra time in the Car Care Center to have my brake system checked is completely worth it to ensure the safety of me and my family this fall season.

If you have any tip and tricks, or there is something you want to know about, email me at girlsgarage@mailaaa.com 

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