As spring rolls around, it is a great time to take care of your car. Here are three ways that you can take care of your car and your brakes this spring.

#1 Get Your Brake Fluid Changed

Many people are not aware that their brakes actually use their own special fluid that needs to be changed occasionally, just like your oil in your vehicle. Your brake fluid should be inspected on a yearly basis.

What you need to watch out for is brake fluid that has a milky appearance. It should be a nice, dark black or brownish color. However, it can develop a milky appearance when condensation and water get into your brake fluid. This can happen naturally over time.

When your brake fluid turns milky, it can have serious consequences for your vehicle. More specifically, it can damage your wheel cylinders as well as your master cylinder, which can be expensive to replace. This type of damage can easily be avoided by checking your brake fluid at least once a year and taking action right away if the brake fluid looks milky.

#2 Bleeding Your Brake Lines

Another brake maintenance task that you should engage in is bleeding your brake lines at least once a year. Spring is a great time to get this yearly task done. When you bleed your brake lines, any air that has made its way into your brake lines is released. This is also a great way to remove all the old brake fluid in your brake lines. Over time, contaminants can work their way into your brake lines and cause damage to your brake system on your vehicle. Bleeding your brake lines is one way to ensure that your brake fluid looks great and that you don't get air in your brakes, which could compromise your brake's ability to function properly.

#3 Get Your Brake Pads Inspected

Finally, you should get your brake pads inspected at least once a year. Your brake pads wear down slowly over time. How long your brake pads last depends upon how many miles you put on your vehicle each year and how you drive. If you drive a lot of miles every year, you are going to need to replace your brake pads more often than someone who only puts a couple thousand miles on their vehicle each year. Regardless of how much or how often you drive, it is a good idea to get your brake pads inspected to see how many more miles they have left on them before they need to be replaced.

Complete the three tasks above to ensure that your vehicle's brake system works effectively. For more information, contact an auto services shop like Apex Transportation.