| Parts of a car's braking system are designed to wear | | | | the lines and hoses are not damaged in any way and |
| down and as this happens, they will lose their | | | | also that they are free of any moving or heat |
| effectiveness. How often should a car's braking | | | | producing parts. Inspecting Disc Brakes On disc brake |
| system be inspected? It is recommended that you | | | | systems, the parts that are designed to wear down |
| have the major components of the brake system be | | | | are:o brake padso rotors, also called discso calipers, in |
| inspected once a year or about every 10,000 miles. | | | | particular the piston or pistons inside of them |
| How often you have the brake system inspected | | | | Inspect the condition of the brake pads and rotors |
| depends on things such as how you drive (how you | | | | and also check to make sure that the piston inside of |
| stop in particular), the age of your car, the type of | | | | the caliper is working properly. Inspect the overall |
| braking system, whether you live on hilly versus flat | | | | thickness of the brake pads and rotors. Brake pads |
| lands, highway versus city driving, and the type of | | | | that show excessesive wear should be replaced. |
| braking system that you have. Inspecting under the | | | | Rotors that have slight wear should be resurfaced or |
| hood Check the level of brake fluid in the master | | | | replaced and rotors that show excessesive wear |
| brake cylinder reservoir. Top it off if neccessary. Be | | | | should be replaced. Brake pads and rotors with light |
| sure not to let any kind of dust or dirt enter the | | | | scratches can mean that there is a contaminent such |
| reservoir. If you need to add more than 2oz of | | | | as dirt lodged between them. At the very least clean |
| brake fluid frequently, there may be a leak | | | | them or have them cleaned with a brake cleaner. |
| somewhere in the brake system. The brake fluid | | | | Rotors with deep scratches should be replaced with |
| should be clear, not dark in any way. If it is, it may | | | | new ones or resurfaced. Inspection of Drum Brakes |
| be time to have it replaced. Inspecting the Brake | | | | On drum brake systems, the parts that are designed |
| System while driving If the brake pedal goes almost | | | | to wear down are:o brake shoeso drumso wheel |
| to the floor or looses its firmness, there may be a | | | | cylinders |
| leak somewhere in the braking system or the brake | | | | Remove the drum so that the inside can be |
| fluid level in the master brake cylinder reservoir has | | | | inspected. Inspect the inside of the drum for any |
| gotten low. A vibrating of pulsating feeling in the | | | | damage that is done to it. Any brake dust buildup |
| brake pedal and/or the steering wheel may be a sign | | | | should be removed with a brake cleaner. If there are |
| that the brake pads and rotors or brake shoes and | | | | heavy scratches to the inside of the drum, replace |
| drums need to be resurfaced or replaced. A light | | | | both drums. A wheel cylinder that is defective will |
| squealing sound is normal, especially when the car is | | | | leak brake fluid from its sides (where the metal |
| cold. If you hear a metal to metal sound, have your | | | | meets the rubber part). warning: when working on |
| brakes inspected immediately. Underneath the Car | | | | the car's braking system, do not inhale any brake |
| Inspect the metal brake lines that run the length of | | | | dust. It is recommended that you wear a face mask |
| the car and also the rubber hoses that deliver the | | | | when working on the brakes themselves. |
| brake fluid to the brake calipers and make sure that | | | | |