ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REPAIRS TODAY IS THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THERE IS ALSO MUCH CONFUSION AS WHAT MAKES UP A BRAKE JOB AND WHEN IS IT NEEDED. NEXT TO TIRES, BRAKES ARE THE HIGHEST WEAR OUT ITEM ON A CAR. PICTURE A PENCIL ERASER AS IT WEARS DOWN AS IT IS USED. THE BRAKES WEAR IN MUCH THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.
YOUR CAR’S BRAKES BASICALLY CONSIST OF THE FRICTION MATERIAL (ERASER), ROTORS OR DRUMS (PAPER), AND THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. AS YOU STEP ON THE PEDAL THE FLUID IS PUSHED THRU THE LINES TO A PISTON THAT PRESSES THE FRICTION MATERIAL AGAINST THE ROTORS OR DRUM. THE HYDRAULIC PORTION CONSISTS OF THE MASTER CYLINDER, CALIPERS AND/OR WHEEL CYLINDERS ANY OF WHICH CAN FAIL OR LEAK. PLUS, MOST CARS TODAY HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES WHICH WILL BE COVERED LATER. THE FLUID CAN LEAK AND BECOME CONTAMINATED WHICH REDUCES ITS EFFECTIVENESS. AS THE BRAKE PADS OR SHOES WEAR DOWN THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ROTORS OR DRUMS ALSO WEAR DOWN AND EITHER HAVE TO BE MACHINED TO TRUE SHAPE OR REPLACED. VARIOUS PIECES OF HARDWARE HOLDING THINGS IN PLACE SHOULD BE REPLACED ALSO.
YOU SHOULD HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED ANNUALLY. SO WHAT SHOULD YOU NOTICE AS YOU DRIVE? LISTEN FOR NOISES, CHANGES IN BRAKING, SOFT OR SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL, SHAKING OR PULSATING BRAKES, LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. DO YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE PEDAL HARDER OR FARTHER THAN PREVIOUSLY? VISUAL CHECKS SHOULD INCLUDE ABNORMAL WEAR (ONE BRAKE PAD WEARING MORE THAN OTHERS), INDICATIONS OF TOO MUCH HEAT, BAD FLUID, AND LEAKS. CRACKS IN THE PADS, GLAZED SURFACES, OR BROKEN PARTS ARE OTHER ITEMS TO LOOK FOR.
SO NOW THAT YOU NEED BRAKES, WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT? FOR EXAMPLE IN A NORMAL REPAIR OF DISC BRAKES, THE PADS AND HARDWARE SHOULD BE REPLACE, ROTORS MACHINED, AND ALL MOVING PARTS CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. BRAKE FLUID SHOULD BE EITHER FLUSHED OR ADDED. BRAKES PADS SHOULD BE OF A QUALITY EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN THE OEM BRAKES. THE MATERIAL (METALLIC, CERAMIC, ETC) SHOULD MATCH OEM, ALSO. THERE ARE FEWER REQUIREMENTS ON THE COMPOSITION OF BRAKE PADS AND SHOES THAN ON HOT DOGS SOLD AT THE BALL PARK. MAKE SURE YOUR REPAIR SHOP IS USING A REPUTABLE BRAND OF BRAKE PARTS. YOUR LIFE AND OTHER COULD DEPEND ON IT. IF ROTORS ARE BELOW SPECIFICATIONS THEY MUST BE REPLACED. IF CALIPERS ARE LEAKING OR SHOW DEFECTS THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED ALSO. REAR DRUM BRAKES SHOULD BE CLEANED AND PROPERLY ADJUSTED AT THIS TIME.
AS ALWAYS USE A REPAIR SHOP YOU KNOW AND TRUST. THEY WANT TO SEE YOU RETURN FOR FUTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTANANCE.