Brake Repair: Things To Remember About Your Brakes

Jul 21
08:14

2011

Andrew Stratton

Andrew Stratton

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Brake repair is a very important area of maintenance to stay on top of. Without working brakes, your vehicle would not be able to stop and you would be in an emergency situation.

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Your vehicle's brakes are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Without them,Brake Repair: Things To Remember About Your Brakes Articles your vehicle would not be able to stop and you would be in an emergency situation.
When the car stops, it should be a firm full stop when you need it to. The longer you have your vehicle, the higher possibility you will need brake repair at some point in the life of your vehicle.
How does the braking system on your vehicle work? Underneath the brake pedal is an intricate system of wires, hoses, and the brake parts themselves. When you press on the brake pedal, the braking system is activated with the brake fluid passing through the brake hose to the master cylinder. It then passes to the calipers, which push down on the wheels, thus stopping the car. When all these connecting parts are working properly, the car will stop as it is supposed to, but if not, brake repair may be needed.
If you don't feel as though your brakes are working properly, make an appointment with your mechanic to have them inspected. He will then determine if brake repair is needed. During this inspection, the mechanic will check all of the intricate parts and determine what is not working. If the brake fluid is low, your mechanic will fill it and re-grease all the bearings and seals. Your master cylinder will be checked to make sure that all the fluids are going in and out of the engine as they are supposed to. It may just be something simple as a missing or broken spring or hose, or it may be something more serious. If your mechanic determines that brake repair is needed, he will, with your permission, replace any pads, calipers, rotors, and cables so that your brakes will then be working properly and you will be driving safely once again.
Just like you would visit your doctor for regular check-ups, you should also have your vehicle in for regular check-ups. By doing this, you can possibly avoid dangerous emergency situations and the wearing down of your rotors, which would mean that it would cost you more time and money to make sure that your vehicle is running properly. It may vary by car manufacturer and model, so check your manual for exact recommendations.
If you hear any strange sounds, such as screeching, squealing, and grinding, you may need brake repair as that may be an indication that your pads and/or shoes are bad and they should be examined immediately before any further damage occurs. If your steering wheel or brake pedal starts vibrating, you may have warped rotors from metal rubbing on metal, and those should be repaired right away. If you are pressing down on the pedal farther than usual, you may be slowly losing the function of your brakes and those should be checked right away, or if there is a burning smell coming from the direction of your tires, your brakes may be burning which could put you into a dangerous situation.
Bad brakes are not something to mess with so pay close attention to all the warning signs so that you can prevent driving emergencies.