It’s finally springtime, which means it is time to dust off those hibernated UTV and ATV vehicles. However, a few checks are needed before hitting the dirt. To help you get started, Hayes in-house experts shared six maintenance tips to ensure that your ride is safe and productive. 

1. EVALUATE TIRE YOUR PRESSURE

While a flat tire may be an obvious issue, operating your vehicle with tire pressure that is functional but lower than optimal is still a concern worth addressing. By conducting a close inspection to evaluate whether the vehicles’ tires are sufficiently inflated, you can guarantee a safer ride for yourself and your passengers. While checking each tire, be sure to also visually scan for signs of damage near the wheels. For example, if dents and cracks are spotted on the wheels, your future surely includes a flat. 

2. DETERMINE BRAKE PAD WEAR

Unless your brakes are beginning to sound like nails on a chalkboard, updating your brake pads is likely not top of mind, but checking the remaining life of the brake pads is essential to prevent caliper and rotor damage. Even more important, it preserves the life of your off-road vehicle, and it keeps the brakes operating safely and smoothly. Skipping this task also results in a costly repair bill. To determine if the pads are due to be replaced, inspect the thickness of the friction material on each pad. Each pad's friction material should not be worn down to less than 1mm (about 0.04 in) thickness. If the friction pad wears down past that amount, it is time to replace your pads, which should always be replaced in caliper sets. Hayes offers brake pads for a variety of side by side (SxS) utility and recreation vehicles. Explore our pad selection today to get ahead of this issue.

3. MEASURE BRAKE FLUID LEVELS

It would not be a proper vehicle maintenance checklist without mentioning the necessity of changing out brake fluid. When you do, ensure the brake fluid level is between the MIN and MAX lines on the reservoir. Check the manufacturer’s manual to determine your specific vehicle’s fluid replacement intervals. Brake fluids like to absorb moisture; the longer it is used, the more moisture it absorbs. As the fluid absorbs moisture, its ability to resist boiling decreases. As a result, this increases the risk of the brakes fading during aggressive driving. 

4. CHECK THE BATTERY

Be sure that your battery is up to par. Validate that the battery is maintaining a charge following storage. After, ensure that the vehicle is charging the battery while it is running. Setting out for a remote recreational ride or a major utility project with low battery life is a recipe for getting stranded or a half-complete job.

5. INSPECT ROTORS FOR WARPING

Always check for misshapen rotors. This step is essential to ensure the longevity of the vehicle. To check the condition of the rotor, place a straight edge against the brake rotor from all angles and check for any gaps. If rotors are warped, your brake performance may be diminished, and further operation can cause greater warping. While replacing the brake rotors, it is always recommended to install new brake pads to ensure quality performance of your new discs. In short, give that UTV or ATV a long and happy life by checking off this task. 

6. CONDUCT A CALIPER CHECK

Check the caliper to mitigate the risk of potential damage. First, remove the caliper and ensure the caliper housing can slide freely on the caliper pins. Next, consider the condition of those brake pads you checked earlier to understand how the friction material is wearing. When looking at the pads, you want to ensure they are wearing straight and even. If they start wearing it at an angle, it’s bad news and means something is up with your caliper. Unevenly worn brake pads are a telltale sign that a caliper replacement is needed.

Keeping these checks in mind will start your summer dirt season off stronger and safer. As you get started with these tasks, Hayes is here to help. When choosing Hayes replacement products, you are choosing one of the only genuine, factory replacement parts available market wide – like calipers and most brake pads.  

For further maintenance information, please review your vehicle specific user manual and check the pre-ride inspection instructions found on your vehicle.