Nothing sucks more than when your car breaks down.
Fixing your car takes up precious time and money. Even the best-kept automobiles are vulnerable to regular wear and tear that you have to stay on top of to keep it running smoothly.
If you’re the type to wait until the last minute before bringing your car in for maintenance, you might want to think again. Keeping an eye on certain features will help you avoid expensive repairs farther down the road.
Don’t get stuck on the side of the road with a broken-down vehicle. Get ahead of the game and learn about these most common car parts that need replacing.
Brake Pads
Brake pads become worn down every time you hit your brakes. You’ll know it’s time to replace your brake pads when you hear the tell-tale sound of metal scraping against metal. It’s so important to keep brake pads in mind because they can cause dangerous situations if they aren’t maintained correctly.
Filters
Your car has several filters that serve a variety of functions. You should change out all your filters frequently to keep your vehicle running in tip-top shape. These filters include:
- Engine air filters—Keeps debris from interfering with your engine.
- Cabin air filters—Keeps outside pollutants from entering the cabin.
- Oil filters—Keeps oil clean by removing impurities.
Battery
From large SUVs to small sedans, all vehicles rely on a battery to provide power to all their electrical parts. Batteries lose charge and die all the time, so you can expect to replace your car’s battery every 3-5 years. You’ll know that it’s time when you notice your car taking longer to start or when your lights look dimmer than usual.
Tires
The most common car part that needs replacing is the tires. Road conditions and general use will wear down even the most durable tires. If you don’t swap them out regularly, you risk losing traction in slippery weather conditions or having a blowout that is as dangerous as it is inconvenient.
Drive Shafts
The drive shaft is a piece of equipment that can drastically impact your car’s performance. This vital piece helps bring power to different parts of your automobile. You might not know much about them if you are a car amateur, but you can expect to replace the drive shaft on your vehicle every 75,000 miles.
Now that you are more familiar with your vehicle and its various parts, you can better prepare yourself for any problems that might come up. Show your car some TLC by keeping up with regular maintenance.