

Modern cars need less maintenance than ever before. Today's Subaru vehicles are designed to last longer and require less maintenance for a more convenient and more affordable ownership experience. Eventually, you'll need some regular maintenance and the occasional replacement part or minor repair, but a little preventative maintenance can help your car last longer between maintenance visits. Here are four important things to consider that can help make your brakes last longer.

4. Have Brake Dust Removed From Brake Drums
There are two types of brakes that can be found on modern cars: disc brakes and drum brakes. Virtually all modern cars have disc brakes at the front, but many feature rear drum brakes to this day. Unlike disc brakes, drum brakes are enclosed inside the drum. When you step on the brake pedal, the brake pads will press against the brake rotor or brake drum, depending on the type of brake, creating friction that slows down your car. The friction on the brake pads creates a little bit of brake dust over time. With disc brakes, that dust simply falls to the ground, but brake dust can build up inside a brake drum and cause problems over time. If your car has rear drum brakes, have the brakes inspected and cleaned regularly, since you can't see inside to monitor the condition of drum brakes yourself.

3. Change The Brake Fluid
According to the recommended maintenance schedule for the 2019 Subaru models, you should have the brake fluid in your car changed every 30,000 miles. This oft-overlooked procedure can prevent brake fade and ensure you have the very best stopping power, as brake fluid degrades over time. Brake fluid absorbs water from the atmosphere, which lowers its boiling point. The heat generated during braking can cause water-contaminated brake fluid to boil, causing brake fade which means you'll lose stopping power.
When you get your Subaru vehicle maintained at an authorized Subaru service center like ours at Capitol, you can rest assured that the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule will be followed to the letter. If you haven't yet had your brake fluid changed, we can even test it for the presence of water contamination and change the fluid if necessary.
2. Replace Worn Brake Pads & Drums
The most important components to be replaced regularly with your car's brakes are the brake pads. They create friction that brings your car to a stop, but this friction material wears down over time. When this material is worn away completely, you'll experience reduced stopping power and metal-on-metal grinding that can cause damage.
Depending on how you drive, your brake pads could last up to and even beyond 100,000 miles! However, if you experience a lot of mountain driving or stop-and-go traffic, they might wear out much faster. For all 2019 Subaru models, the manufacturer recommends that you have your brake pads inspected every 12,000 miles.

1. Drive Cautiously And Brake Conservatively
To make your brake system last longer and demand less maintenance, how you drive matters more than anything else. Riding the brake as you drive, failing to take advantage of engine braking and braking hard will all put more strain on the system than necessary. Maintain a safe following distance at all times, brake softly and begin to brake earlier to make sure your brake pads last as long as possible. Of course, brake as hard as necessary in the event that you need to make an emergency stop, but driving conservatively and defensively when you can will help keep your car in better condition.
Capitol Subaru of Salem
920 Auto Group Ave NE
Salem, OR 97301
- Sales: 503-587-5500
- Service: 503-587-5500
- Parts: 503-587-5500