Why You Should Perform a Brake Service on Hybrid Vehicles?
Every vehicle needs regular maintenance to perform its best, including on the brakes. You may know the differences between brake maintenance for an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and an electric vehicle (EV), but what about hybrids?
Let’s go over how hybrid brakes work and why it’s important to service them regularly.
Defining Hybrids
Hybrid vehicles have both an internal combustion engine, which can run on gas or diesel, and an electric motor, which is powered by a rechargeable battery. Hybrid engines are typically smaller than regular ICE vehicles, improving their fuel economy. Unless you have a plug-in hybrid (HEV), you won’t need to manually charge your hybrid’s battery. Instead, the car will use regenerative braking to keep the battery powered.
Depending on where you’re driving, your hybrid will switch between power sources. In city traffic, for example, hybrids primarily move using electricity to increase their efficiency. On open roads, the hybrid may switch to gas or a combination of both gas and electricity to maximize its range.
Hybrids will vary in their exact design and definition, but the bottom line is, they use more than one energy source to get you moving.
How Do Hybrid Brakes Work?
Hybrid vehicles have the same brake components as ICE vehicles, such as brake rotors, brake pads, and calipers. In a conventional car, the brake pads clamp down on the rotors as you press on the brake pedal, slowing the car down with friction.
In a hybrid, the resistance from the electric motor that is created when you release the accelerator pedal captures kinetic energy to slow the car down and charge the battery. This process, known as regenerative braking, takes pressure off the brake parts, helping them last longer.
Brake Maintenance Recommendations
Brakes are an essential part of your car’s functionality. If you neglect to maintain them, you put yourself and others at risk whenever you drive. Regularly inspecting, servicing, and replacing your brake parts when needed is crucial to your vehicle’s performance.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your brakes, have a professional give them a visual inspection. Sometimes, a quick brake service for your hybrid vehicle can fix the issue.
A hybrid brake service should look the same as the brake service for an ICE vehicle. This will include the following steps:
- Descaling: clean away dust, rust, and corrosion.
- Bleeding: flush out fluid, bubbles, and containments.
- Lubrication: apply new grease on caliper sliders, brake show adjusters, and other parts to allow for proper sliding and to prevent rust and seizing.
If any parts need replacing, your mechanic will include that in the service.
When to Service Hybrid Brake?
Regular combustion vehicles will require a brake inspection roughly every 10,000 km or twice per year. Hybrid vehicle owners are often advised to follow the same schedule. At minimum, you should have your hybrid’s brakes inspected once per year.
Most hybrid vehicles will need a brake pad replacement every five years. To help you pick the right brake pads, check out this article.
The rest of the brakes parts on an ICE vehicle can last up to 100,000 km. For hybrids, this lifespan can stretch to 160,000 km.
More Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance Tips
When caring for your hybrid, stick to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. Leave hybrid maintenance tasks and repairs to an experienced mechanic who will use quality parts and supplies made for your vehicle.
Check out all the regular maintenance services available at NAPA AUTOPRO service centres for checkups and repairs. For any questions about hybrid vehicle maintenance, speak to an expert at any NAPA AUTOPRO shop.