Common Brake Repair Mistakes

A very common mistake made is the use of the wrong pads or shoes for a vehicle. This usually happens in the event that an owner declares the wrong model year to the mechanic or person installing the new parts. Owners sometimes get model years confused if they have more than one car, and parts are not interchangeable. Even if the parts seem to fit, there will be identifiable indication that a mistake was made upon driving the car. Much like sounds that lead a driver to believe that repairs are in need, there will be suspicious sounds made in conjunction with the install of the wrong model year parts.

Another common mistake by some technician and DIYers is confusing the install locations of the leading and the trailing shoe. The leading is slightly larger than the trailing, and in a hurry the two can be inadvertently switched. Again, suspicious sounds or vibrations will be the indicator that this may have happened.

Sometimes DIYers or those on a budget will neglect rattle hardware. It needs to be replaced with every pad replacement, or, you guessed it. There will be a detectable rattle. Incorrect installation will also cause the hardware to malfunction.

A DIYer’s most commonly made mistake is overlooking the use of lube. Cutting corners when dealing with brakes, a car’s most important safety system is just not acceptable.

Frequently, in a repair turning rotors is neglected. Rotors should be turned or replaced, depending on their condition, with every job. Often, a technician or DIYer will look that the rotor surface to detect its condition. Even though it may look smooth and functioning, rotors must always be changed. Avoiding new or turned rotors is a quick fix that will have you back in the shop for new pads and rotors very soon. Bleeding should also be done after every pad and rotor installation to drain out corroded fluid.

A car’s brakes should be inspected annually for regular brake repair. Whether your car was making a noise prior to a brake repair or not, a noise after the repair is a certain indication that something is not right. Take your car back to the shop and describe the noise or vibration that you are detecting. Go over step by step the issues that could be causing the glitch. Check the mechanic notes for the model year part that was pulled for the job, and ask a different technician on duty to inspect the work mentioning these common mistakes. Most likely one of these common brake repair issues has occurred.