With the festive season fast approaching, it’s a time of year when many Aussies pack their cars to visit family and friends, or travel to their favourite holiday spot or camping ground for some rest and recreation.

It’s generally a busy time on our roads as well, with drivers often towing caravans, campervans, boats, motorcycles and other recreational vehicles. It makes sense then that motorists should consider their brakes before heading off, particularly if embarking on a longer trip in warmer temperatures, and with the added demands placed on the braking system when towing.

Although brakes should be checked by a mechanic or technician as part of a vehicle’s regular maintenance schedule, the extended service intervals offered in many new cars, means that brakes may not have been inspected for almost 12 months or over 10,000
kilometres.

Although mechanically inclined owners may be able to perform basic visual inspections and tests such as checking brake fluid levels, looking out for obvious leaks and monitoring brake pedal feel during the normal course of driving, given the importance of the braking
system to vehicle safety, it’s recommended that an in-depth review is conducted by an expert.

A braking professional will be able to test drive a vehicle and more easily identify subtle noises, vibrations or any other braking abnormalities that an owner might not pickup.

They also have the facilities and equipment to efficiently remove all wheels to properly check brake pad wear, rotor condition, ABS sensors, brakes hoses and hubs, and fit the necessary replacement parts, make adjustments or repair if required. This close inspection
will also allow them to identify any related problems with a vehicle’s suspension system or tyres, areas that can affect overall braking performance as well.

Under the bonnet, a technician can also test the quality of the brake fluid and advise if it needs flushing and replacing, while inspecting the brake master cylinder as well. In short, it’s all best left to the experts.

For vehicle owners, now is the time to take advantage of the many braking and general vehicle safety inspections that mechanical workshops and specialist brake shops are offering in the lead-up to Christmas. A brake inspection before the big summer road trip will give added peace of mind, particularly when fitting quality replacement components such as those manufactured by Bendix.

For a full list of Bendix components – including braking upgrades – for passenger and performance vehicles, four-wheel drives and commercial vehicles along with brake controllers and accessories, visit the website and enjoy the road trip.