Maintain Your Brakes - Safety Pays

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Your vehicle's brakes are one of those things that require regular maintenance and replacement to keep your car or truck running smoothly and safely.

Nothing is worse than the squeal of spent brake pads except, perhaps, the high cost of damage to the brake system when it is not maintained properly.

If you know what to look for and when to replace things, whether you do it yourself or have a trusted technician do it for you, you can save a lot of money and headaches over the life of your car.

How the Braking System Works

To get started, a general knowledge of how your vehicle's braking system works will give you a better idea of what to look for when something might be wrong. Most passenger vehicles such as cars and light trucks have a braking system that comprises the following components:

• - A brake pedal and master cylinder
• - Steel brake lines that are routed along the frame and floor pan and flexible rubber hoses at the wheels.
• - Calipers, wheel cylinders, and various hardware components including springs, clips and pins.
• - Brake rotors and brake drums
• - Brake pads and brake shoes

Passenger vehicles and light trucks have a brake pedal that levers a connection to the master cylinder, which will have a brake fluid reservoir attached. The master cylinder is responsible for creating the pressure that the brake fluid transfers through the lines to the calipers and wheel cylinders. This then applies the pads or shoes to the rotors or drums.

In the case of disc brakes, the piston seal in the calipers retract the piston and release the pads from the rotors. With drum brakes, there are a series of springs that pull the shoes from the drum to release the rear brakes.

Maintaining Your Vehicle's Braking System - Pads, Rotors, and Drums

Maintenance of the braking system usually begins at the brake pads located on all four tires - two per wheel. The pads and rotors should be checked to make sure they are in proper working condition.

Brake pads should have enough pad thickness to safely stop the car and most have small indicators built into them to show when they need to be replaced. Rotors have a smooth surface area which the pads connect with. This area should be smooth and flat without ridges or grooves. The rotor itself should meet minimum thickness specifications and be completely free of cracks or fragmentation.

Most vehicles are now four wheel disc systems but there are still drum brakes found on the rear of some vehicles. Brake drums look similar to an iron frying pan without a handle. Removing them will reveal two brake shoes. These shoes can either be operated through the brake pedal or the parking brake lever. As with the front, these shoes should meet minimum thickness specifications in order to safely do their job. The inside of the drum, where the shoes connect, should be smooth and free of grooves or peaks. Likewise, the drum should be free of cracks or flaking and meet minimum thickness specifications.

Maintaining Your Vehicle's Braking System - Fluids and Lines

Periodic checking of the brake fluid levels and the integrity of the brake lines is also important. Drivers should be aware of any fluid on the ground indicating a leak (this is a dangerous condition and should be corrected before driving the vehicle). Brake lines should be inspected regularly for leaks, loose connections, etc. The fluid reservoir should be checked and filled whenever required. In addition the brake fluid should be changed at regular service intervals according to the manufacturer.

Signs of Brake System Problems

There are signs you can watch for while driving your vehicle that will indicate a problem with the braking system.

If the brakes squeal or make grinding noises when you brake, you most likely need to change your pads. Often times if the situation has gotten to this point, the rotors and drums are in danger and may need turning (smoothing on a machine) or replacement. As soon as you hear squealing, you should check your brake pads and replace them immediately if needed. Otherwise, the cost of your replacement could triple (or more) because of the added costs with replacing rotors and drums.

If the pedal is "mushy" or less responsive than you're used to, you may have either a leak in the brake fluid lines or air that has entered the lines, either of which compromises the system. This should be repaired immediately.

If the brake pedal vibrates when pressing at high speeds, you most likely need to resurface or replace your brake rotors. Hard spots on the rotor may develop as it wears from excessive heat caused as the rotor wears down.

Conclusion

All braking systems should be frequently inspected. Remember that the brakes are what make your car safe for yourself and others.

Related pages

• Brake pad replacement
• Brake rotor replacement
• Resurface rotors
• Drum brake replacement
• Brake light replacement
• ABS repair