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GoinsAutoRepair.Com
Auto Care Tips
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When to
Have Your Brakes Serviced:
The red "BRAKE" lamp on the dash
lights up to tell you the park brake is on and to warn of
possible failures. If the lamp is lit when driving, the park
brakes may be dragging or there may be even more serious
problems such as loss of some of the brakes on the vehicle.
Never ignore a red warning lamp.
Vehicles with antilock brake systems
have an amber lamp marked "ABS" or
"ANTI-LOCK" that lights when you first turn on the
ignition key and when the ABS computer detects a malfunction.
If the ABS lamp is lit when driving, the computer has probably
shut down the system. Drive as though you do not have ABS and
have the system serviced.
Audible warnings often indicate the need
for parts replacement. A grinding sound usually is a call for
inspection or re placement. Many disc brakes also have wear
indicators that squeal when re placement is needed.
Last but not least, there is the overall
"feel" of a good brake system. The pedal should feel
firm and the vehicle should stop straight and smooth. Severe
chatter, a pull to one side or a soft or spongy pedal usually
means the brake system is calling for immediate attention.
The Signals Know your vehicle's brake
system and its warnings. When to have your brakes serviced or
1 A qualified technician will inspect and service these parts
of your brake system
A
Qualified technician will inspect and service these parts of
your brake system
Master cylinder
The master cylinder is the heart of the
system, pumping brake fluid when you step on the pedal to
apply the brakes. Brake fluid can pick up moisture and
contaminates and should be replaced about every 25,000 miles
or at lining replacement, whichever is sooner. A low fluid
level may indicate a leak or excessive brake lining wear. An
immediate visual inspection of the brakes at all four wheels,
the linings, the hoses, and the steel brake lines is
recommended.
Caution: not all fluids are
compatible. Use only the fluid type listed on the lid of the
master cylinder (example, DOT 3).
Calipers and
wheel cylinders
The disc brake calipers and the drum
brake wheel cylinders convert the pressurized brake fluid into
muscle power to apply the brakes. Visually inspect for leaks
around the rubber seals, and rebuild or replace if leaks are
detected.
ABS sensors and
controller
ABS systems monitor wheel speed, tell
the computerized controller when a wheel or wheels are about
to lock-up, and modulate the brakes. When the brakes are being
modulated (an ABS event), it is often possible to feel this as
a pulsing of the brake pedal. These systems are electronically
controlled, have extremely high reliability, and are
self-diagnosing. The amber ABS lamp comes on for a bulb check
at start-up and will light if there is a malfunction that
shuts down the system. Some malfunctions, such as a loose wire
or an improperly adjusted wheel bearing, may be temporarily
self-correcting. The computer stores a record of these
malfunctions in order to advise the technician of any needed
service.
A
Qualified technician will inspect and service these parts of
your brake system
Brake pads and shoes
(linings)
Periodic inspections are the only sure
way to determine if new linings are necessary, whether or not
you heard the audible warnings. Your driving style usually
determines when new linings (brake job) are required. Tell
your technician or parts store if you normally load-up your
vehicle and/or pull a trailer. There is no substitute for
quality linings designed to fit both the vehicle and your
driving style.
Parking brake
Use the parking brake every time you
park the car in order to keep it functioning. Corrosion is the
enemy of the parking brake. If you have not regularly used the
parking brake, have your technician lubricate the cables and
check the adjustment. 1 2 Using your brakes properly
Using
your brakes properly
Think of your brake system as an
extension of your body. If you push on the brake pedal
and the car does not respond as expected, you might be
in trouble. Learn your vehicle and learn to apply the
right amount of brake pedal force for each stop. Be
aware of different conditions of loading such as the
occasional vacation trip or towing a trailer. Brake
fade can happen during high-speed stops, descending
long hills or sometimes just trying to stop a loaded
vehicle. It is better to apply more brake at the
beginning of the stop than later in the stop when fade
is starting.
When driving on wet or slippery
roads, remember that a skidding wheel has less
control. Do not apply more brake than you need. If you
have ABS, let the system help you. Drive normally,
brake normally with the same amount of pedal pressure
(do not pump the brakes), and steer as necessary.
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source of
information taken from doityourself.com
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