Guide to KEEPING YOUR BRAKES IN CHECK...you slow down or get stopped in time, then you can’t...

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Guide to

KEEPING YOUR BRAKES IN CHECK

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Guide to KEEPING YOUR BRAKES IN CHECK

As one of the most important parts of your vehicle, it’s vital to keep your brakes in perfect working order. If you can’t fully rely on your brakes to help you slow down or get stopped in time, then you can’t safely get everywhere that you need to go.

Taking proper care of your brakes plays a large role in keeping them in check. In this Guide to Keeping Your Brakes in Check, you’ll learn about the five best ways to keep your brakes in check including:

1. Knowing the Brake Parts and What They Do

2. Providing Your Brakes with Routine Maintenance

3. Keeping an Eye on Them Between Service Visits

4. Spotting Brake Problems Early On

5. Getting Them the Help They Need When They Need It

After you’ve read through this detailed guide, you’ll be able to keep your brakes in check. Read ahead to learn more about taking care of your brakes!



1. Knowing the Brake Parts & What They DoThere are many different parts that make up the brake system. The four most important parts are the brake calipers, the brake fluid, the brake pads, and the brake rotors. In this section, you’ll learn about what these parts are and what they do.

• Brake Calipers – The caliper is the clamp that fits over the rotor and presses the brake pads down onto the rotor to create fiction and slow the vehicle down.

• Brake Fluid – Hydraulic fluid that converts force to pressure, generating the friction necessary to bring your car to a complete stop.

• Brake Pads – The brake pads are made of high-strength material so they can rub against the rotor and create friction.

• Brake Rotors – The rotor is the disc that spins with the axle in between the clamps of the brake caliper.

2. Providing Your Brakes with Routine MaintenanceThroughout their lifespan, these parts and the many other parts within the brake system will need to be serviced. The four major parts we discussed in the previous section will need to be replaced at least once or twice while you own the vehicle. However, they should all be inspected every six months when you take your vehicle in for other routine services.

Both the brake pads and the brake rotors will need to be replaced about once every two years. Most manufacturers recommend that they be replaced between 25,000 miles and 70,000 miles. However, this can vary based on your driving habits and the type of brake pads and brake rotors that you have. The brake calipers, on the other hand, are designed to last a very, very long time. You’ll only need to replace them if they become damaged or abnormally worn down.

As for the brake fluid, you’ll need to check your owner’s manual. How often you change this fluid is largely based on the vehicle that you drive.



Replacing Brake Pads at HomeMany of the parts in the brake system can be serviced at home. Some of the easiest parts to replace yourself area the brake pads if you follow our easy step-by-step instructions:

1. Obtain the right brake pads for your vehicle, a jack, a lug wrench, and a C-clamp.

2. Jack the vehicle up and remove the wheel by loosening the lug nuts with a lug wrench.

3. Lock and remove the bottom slider bolt that’s bolted to the brake caliper. Leave the top slider blot in place.

4. Swing the brake caliper up and out of the way.

5. Pinch the brake pad retaining clips and remove them along with the old brake pad. You can easily slide them out through the hole that’s usually covered by the brake caliper.

6. Slide the new brake pad in through the same hole and secure it using the new brake pad retaining clips.



7. Retract the pistons of the brakes using the C-clamp in order to replace the brake caliper. As you’re doing this, be sure to watch the brake fluid level – if it rises too quickly, it could mean problems for your brake system.

8. Swing the brake caliper back down into its regular position and secure it with the slider bolt. Make sure this bolt is tight.

9. Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts.

10. Lower the vehicle back down and repeat the process for however many of your wheels need new brake pads.

3. Keeping an Eye on Them Between Service VisitsA big part of keeping your brakes in check is keeping an eye on them between your 6-month routine service visits. A lot can go wrong in six months so it’s important to be the eyes and ears of your regular technicians in order to spot problems with your brakes as well as behaviors that could be wreaking havoc on your brakes. Things that have the most impact on your brakes include:



• Spending a lot of time in city traffic or stop-and-go traffic

• Slamming on brakes at the last minute rather than coasting to a stop

• Driving frequently in extreme weather conditions like ice and extreme heat

• Off-roading in your vehicle especially if your vehicle isn’t properly equipped

Correcting these behaviors will help to keep your brakes in the best possible condition.

In between service visits, you can also visually check on the different parts of your brakes if you have the right tools. Checking on your own brakes involves cranking the vehicle up using a jack, removing the wheel, and looking in at the brakes.

4. Spotting Brake Problems Early OnWhile there are a variety of things that can go wrong with your brakes, you don’t have to worry about not noticing it. There are many ways to spot problems with your brakes. Keep an eye and ear out for these common symptoms of faulty brakes:

• Brake Light – The warning light on your dashboard that is designated for your brake system will light up. It should look like a circle with an exclamation point inside of it with parentheses on either side of the circle.

• Strange Noises – When you press down on the brake pedal, you hear strange noises coming from the brakes including grinding, scraping, squealing, squeaking, or chirping.

• Vibrations – Faulty brakes can cause the brake pedal to vibrate whenever you push down on it. It’s also not uncommon for faulty brakes to also cause the body of the vehicle and/or the steering vibrate when you brake.



• Mushy Pedal – Mushy pedal syndrome is classified as the need to use much more force than normal on the brake pedal in order to stop or get slowed down.

• Longer Stop Time – When you press down on the brake pedal, you don’t feel that accompanying jerk forward that you normally do or it just takes more time to stop than it should. The first time you notice this symptom could be when you collide with something.

• Pulling – While you’re driving your vehicle is pulling to one side without you turning the steering wheel almost as if the vehicle is steering itself.

These are the most common signs of faulty brakes so be sure to keep an eye and ear out for them. However, there are times that you won’t experience any symptoms so be sure to get your brakes checked regularly.

One thing to keep in mind about noises that come from the brakes is that it isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it’s normal to hear a little bit of squeaking from your brake system if you’ve recently had new brakes put in. If this noises persists after a week or two, though, it’s a good idea to get ahead of the problem if there is one.



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5. Getting Them the Help They Need When They Need It

When you notice that something is wrong with your brakes, it’s important to get them looked at as soon as possible. Letting problems with the brakes persist for too long can result in a collision or accident because you can’t get stopped in time.

The best place to take care of your brake system is at a trusted service center in your area. The expertly trained service technicians at the service center will be able to diagnose the specific problem your brakes are experiencing and get them back to normal quickly.

Good Luck with Keeping Your Brakes in Check!In this guide, you learned about all kinds brake-related topics. The brake system has a lot going on with its many moving parts. However, the more you know about this important system, the better equipped you are to take good care of it.

By following the many helpful tips in this guide, you’ll be able to properly maintain your brake system and keep everything on track in order to avoid brake problems as much as possible. However, when trouble arises, it’s best to get a professional opinion.

The next time you need your brakes serviced or looked at, contact your local service center. They’ll be able to schedule you for a service appointment and get things back on track quickly!

Guide to KEEPING YOUR BRAKES IN CHECK...you slow down or get stopped in time, then you can’t...

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