Buying a used car can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to make sure it’s in good condition and on your budget, but you also need to know what condition your car’s tire and brake systems are in before driving off the lot. There are two basic ways to check the condition of your vehicle’s tires and brake systems: by checking each system alone, or by performing a complete visual inspection. Here are tips to help you in checking your tires and brakes.
Check the tread on your tires
You should always begin checking your tire tread when buying used cars in miami. This is fairly simple too, because all you have to do is look at the grooves in your tires. The deeper they are, the more tread is left on your tires.
Check the overall condition of your brakes
When checking a car’s brake system, start by examining the front brakes, back brakes and parking brake. You should feel comfortable when squeezing the brakes, and they shouldn’t squeak or squeal. When you go out to drive your car, you should be able to feel the car slow down when you hit the brake. If the car doesn’t respond well or seems like it’s taking longer to brake, you may want to pass on it.
Check for an alignment
When checking your tire tread and general condition of your braking system, also check for alignment problems. If you have a car that is off-center, it could affect the tread on your tires. This can cause damage to the vehicle and result in accidents after a while. Alignments can also affect your brakes because they’re based on the front wheels and rear wheels being exactly the same. If one wheel has to turn a certain amount, there’s likely an alignment problem that won’t be right if the right wheel turns too much or moves forward to take up for slack in the left wheel.
Check for worn-down brake pads
Don’t just assume that used cars in miami tire tread, brakes and alignment are in perfect condition. Consult the car’s owner manual or read the service book on how to check your tires and brakes. There will be specific measurements on how much tread is right for you, as well as how far apart your tires should be from the fenders.
Check your parking brake
This only applies to cars that have a hand-operated parking brake located next to the driver’s seat. You should determine if the parking brake is working well. It’s a good idea to pull up on it so you can feel if the force is holding it. You may also want to check how long the parking brake has been used, if it’s not new still has the paint on it and have someone else push down on it while you hold the brake lever down.
