Brake Repair Basics
Brake repair is a common do it yourself project for the car owner, particularly during economic downtimes when money is tight. However, it is extremely important to perform brake repair correctly, since top performing car brakes are one of the most vital safety components of your vehicle. Here are some basic instructions for brake repair. They assume that the car owner already has a basic concept of brake components.
Brakes work by pressing together two pads that rest on either side of a rotating metal disk in your wheel mechanism. Each wheel is equipped with two brake pads that close up when you press on the brake pedal of your car. Naturally, these pads wear down over time. That metal scraping sound that you one day start hearing whenever you press on the brakes is your car telling you that brake repair is needed. You could choose to ignore the sound, but the pads will wear completely away and only metal against metal will be left to stop your car. The scraping and grinding of metal on metal will eventually completely ruin the wheel mechanism. Pay me now or pay me later. Performing brake repair now will save money on more expensive repairs down the road.
Brake pads can easily be purchased from any auto parts store, but be sure to give the store the exact make and model of your car as the pads may vary. Back home with your car in the driveway, the next step is to jack it up and remove the wheel. These two tasks, buying the pads and jacking up the car, comprise the majority of your brake repair. If you want to check to see if brake repair is really necessary, you can view the pads through the view port in the brake housing before starting. Once you determine that brake repair is necessary, then remove the wheel and the lower bolt on the brake housing and swing the unit up and away from the wheel. You are now ready to begin actual brake repair.
The brake pads will be visible with the housing out of the way. Sitting loosely on the side of the disk without anything to hold them in place, they are easily removed. You then take them off and replace them with the new brake pads and swing the housing back down. Adjust the caliper accordingly to allow for the width of the new pads so that it securely holds them in place, just touching the disk, and slide the piston back into its housing.The prospect of performing your own brake repair may be intimidating at first, but once you get started you will see just how easy the process really is.
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