Navigating Mountain Slopes: Essential Care for Your Subaru’s Brakes and All-Wheel Drive
Driving around central New Mexico is an incredible experience, but it tests your vehicle in ways flatland drivers never have to worry about. Whether you are commuting up Highway 14 toward the Sandia Crest, heading out on a weekend trip to Jemez Springs, or coasting down steep mountain passes, your car takes a beating. Subaru vehicles are famous for handling tough terrain thanks to their Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD). But when you are riding the brakes down a 10% incline or pushing through loose dirt and gravel, two critical systems bear the brunt of the workload: your braking system and your front and rear differentials. Understanding how mountain driving impacts these components and staying proactive with routine maintenance, keeps your crossover running safely and smoothly across the high desert. The High-Desert Reality: How Mountain Grades Stress Your Brakes Driving downhill sounds easy on paper, but it is actually one of the hardest things an engine and brak...