Jun
18
2010
Brake system
Author: Tk
Time for brakes? Where should you go? Where do I start? What is the real problem? Are all brakes the same? Does it matter? What about brake fluid?
All these are good questions. Here are some good answers. For starters a braking system consists of different parts, all of which can have a problem… Let’s look at some main issues we can encounter:
For brake service, I do recommend going to an ASE Certified Garage/Technician. You may choose to do it yourself, but please be very careful, educate yourself on the procedures, there are a lot of small things you need to keep an eye on. There are a lot of free ’how to’ videos on the internet.
All brake pads and shoes are NOT created equal. Price is normally an indicator of quality and performance. There are several different materials brakes are made of. Organic, Semi-Metallic, Full Metallic, Ceramic and the newest Ferro-Carbon. It is best to find out what your vehicle had from the factory and stay with that quality and material. You can upgrade to a better pad, I never suggest down grading and putting a cheaper less quality brake pad/shoe on your vehicle.
When you step on your brake pedal and your steering wheel shakes back and forth, this normally means that the (main) problem lays more in your rotors; your front rotors are more than likely warped. They can be fixed, by putting them on a brake lathe and having them resurfaced. In order to have this operation performed there must be sufficient material left on the rotors. If there is not enough material (metal), then you must replace the rotors. As with everything, there is a price difference. Quality normally reflects price. Now if you feel the vibration in your seat or floor, then this normally means you have a warped rear rotor or out-of round rear brake drum. They rear drums or rotors can also be machined true if there is enough material. The same procedures hold true for the rear brakes also.
One other part that needs service I will mention short; getting your brake fluid flushed. Never heard of it? Well with conventional brakes the brake fluid never traveled through the system. However with Anti-Lock Brakes the brake fluid travels through the system and it can carry dirt and debris through the system, possibly reducing the performance of the Anti-Lock Brakes.
I hope this is a little help on understanding your vehicles braking system. If you have any questions please feel free to write.
Thanks for STOPPING by
