Showing posts with label automotive braking system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label automotive braking system. Show all posts

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Most Common Problems With Your Automotive Brake System

Its gonna be Monday again and the weekend will be over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car's brake pads.


Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.

Wear of the Brakes - One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.

Squeaking or Grinding – Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.

Sounds of Wear Indicators – At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.

Rotors Might Warp – Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbour facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.

Thin Rotor Wrap Easily – I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the he new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.

Loose Lug Nuts After Repair – This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn't warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.

These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We'll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Attention! Your Brake Pads Need To Be Changed

Its been some time since you paid attention to those wearing brakes of your vehicles. You are well aware that the car brakes are very important automotive parts and you cannot be that careless with them. Still, you had been avoiding them for a repair or even a change for so many days.

If you can relate yourself to the above condition, then here is a small and easy way to change your automobile brake parts. Brake pads are essential auto parts of any automobile brake system. Read on to know how can you easily replace the brake pads of your vehicle. Try these do it yourself (DIY) tips.

You Should Have Access To Brake Pads – Since you have fair idea of how car brakes work, you can start with the tips immediately. Ensure that your vehicle is properly lifted off the ground. Remove the tire of the car and gain access to those wearing brake pads.

Checking of Pads – First off all, remove the calipers that squeeze the brake pads. There are bolts that hold calipers together and you won't find it difficult to remove these automotive bolts. Once the calipers are removed, its time to check the brake pads.

Check Rotor – While you are checking the brake pad, then also inspect the rotor. You might also find the rotor worn out, which means you need to change them too. Well, if you are lucky, it can also be repaired. You might just shave down the scored motor to make them smooth. Thank God, at least you saved some dollars there.

Time to Install New Brake Pads – Get new brake pads from your nearest but authorized automotive parts and components store. Since you have removed the worn out brake pads, we will help you replace them with new ones.

The Preparation - Start with the calipers again. Reposition the calipers. Its easy. Move the caliper towards the center of the vehicle to bring it in full open position. You can do so by using a vice grip. Now the calipers are in place, the brake pads are need to be fixed. Apply some brake pad grease on the back of the pads.

Assemble The Greased Brake Pads Now – In order to reassemble the brake pads, you need to install them onto the calipers. To fix caliper back on, use a bolt. The next step is to replace the tire that we have removed in the beginning. The tire need to be placed back onto the axle.

Don't Forget To Tighten The Wheels – After the brake pads are replaced, lower the vehicle and tighten the wheels. Take a small test drive in order to make sure that the car stops correctly.

In case you hear some kind of screeching sound from your brake system, don't worry. Its your brake pads. The new brake pads usually create some noise which will definitely fade away in few days.

Replacing your brake pads is an easy task but if you find any kind of problem, then its always better to get it done by your car mechanic or at a repair center. Try these car maintenance and repair tips. Lets hope, this information on how to change brake pads of your car helps you in right maintenance of your car.