How to fix common brake problems

Nothing stinks worse than having brake trouble and getting taken for a ride by your mechanic. Get the best information on brake repair so you do not get scammed at the garage. The braking system is a complex system which needs proper maintenance and care over the lifetime of your car. Your car's brake system is a complex grouping of parts which serve a critical role in keeping you safe.  No other system in the car is as important for your safety.  Keeping your brake system in tip-top shape should be your top priority. Any kind of negligence in car problems can incur a heavy repair cost. Some car brake problems are not that troublesome but can lead to problems if not rectified. Let's discuss some of the common brake problems and ways to get rid of them.

Wear: The braking system does a lot of work and the brake pads take the brunt of the punishment.  It is a good idea to have you brake pads checked every 6 months or when you suspect a problem.  Symptoms include squeaking, grinding, or increased stopping distance.  Most pads have a thin metal tab which vibrates against the rotor when the pads wears down to a dangerous level.  Some pads do not have this and if not checked periodically can wear down far enough to ruin the rotors.  A modern trend is to make the brake pads very hard thus extending life.  This harder material can squeak and sound like the wear indicators.  Brake dust can also cause squealing but can be fixed by spraying brake cleaner on the brake system to remove the dust.

Warped Rotors: More common in newer cars, but possible on all disc brake systems.  Rotors warp due to being overheated or incorrect tightening of the wheel.  A warped rotor will give a pulsing feeling when applying the brakes.  This pulsing can be annoying and dangerous.  Most newer cars have rotors which are very thin and warp very easy.  Furthering the problem, the manufacturer does not leave enough material to resurface the rotor.  Check with you mechanic to make sure you can safely have the rotors machined or replace with new rotors.  To resurface, the rotor is placed in a lathe and a cutting tool removes a few thousandth's of material from the braking surface.  This restores the flatness of the rotor and eliminates the pulsing sensation in the pedal.  Make sure when your mechanic puts everything back together that he torques the lug nuts to proper specifications and never uses an impact wrench.   If the lug nuts are not tightened evenly the rotor can warp and you are back to square one.  Note:  Some shops use a torque stick, which attaches to an impact wrench and does not allow the torque wrench to tighten more than it should.  This is acceptable.  If your mechanic does not use a torque wrench or torque sticks, find another mechanic.

Sueealing Sound from Brakes: The squealing sound from the brakes doesn't indicate any improper usage of the car brakes, but can indicate their wear and tear. If you start hearing a high-pitched squeal when you press the brake pedal, the problem may lie in the brake pads. The squealing sound is the brake manufacturer's technique of letting the driver know that the brake pads are worn out and need replacement. If the squealing sound is not that loud or is intermittent, one needs to check for dirt and dust in the brake pads. This problem can be fixed by washing the car at an automated car wash station. There can be many other problems such as low quality of brake liners, improper brake shoes, poor condition of backing plate, broken retaining springs, improper alignment of brake adjusters, etc. If there is a continuous squeal from the wheel, the wheel bearings can be at fault. If the squealing sound comes even when you are not applying the brakes, then the brake pads are almost worn out, and cannot be used anymore. If this problem is not corrected, it can have a negative effect on the brake rotors as well.

Low Brake Fluid This may be the result of worn disc brake pads, or it may indicate a leak in the brake system. If the BRAKE WARNING LIGHT is also on, most likely the problem is a leak (though the Brake Warning light may also come on if the master cylinder reservoir has a fluid level sensor). Leaks are dangerous because they can cause brake failure. The calipers, wheel cylinders, brake hoses and lines, and master cylinder all need to be inspected. If a leak is found, the defective component must be replaced. Your vehicle should NOT be driven until the leak can be repaired.

Weak Brakes: When the brake pedal is pressed to the floor, the brakes are not as effective as they should normally be. This can be due to the low level of brake fluid. Fill up the brake fluid to an appropriate level. Water in the brake fluid can also be a problem which causes loss in braking power. The brake pads can be worn out even if there is no squealing from the wheel, indicating that they need to be replaced

Dragging Brakes This can cause a steering pull and/or increased fuel consumption. The constant drag will also accelerate brake wear and cause the brakes to run hot (which can increase pedal effort and the risk of brake fade if the brakes get too hot). Dragging brakes can be caused by weak or broken retracting springs on drum brakes, a jammed or corroded disc brake caliper piston, a floating caliper with badly corroded mounting pins or bushings (uneven pad wear between the inner and outer pads is a clue here), overextended drum brake self-adjusters or a sticky or frozen emergency brake cable.

Brake Pull to One Side If your vehicle suddenly swerved to one side when you apply the brakes, there is uneven braking side-to-side. This usually means one front brake is not working properly. The pull will be toward the side with the good brake (because it is doing all the work). Brake pull can be caused by brake fluid, oil or grease on the brake pads, a stuck caliper, a blockage in the brake line to one of the front calipers, or sometimes loose wheel bearings. A brake pull can also be caused by different types/brands of brake pads side-to-side on the front brakes. Different friction materials have different friction characteristics, so the brakes will pull toward the side that generates the most friction.

Hard Brake Pedal: If you press the brake pedal and feel that it's too hard, there can be a vacuum problem. The brake booster uses vacuum to make the brakes work. If there is a leak in the vacuum system, the negative pressure that is needed won't be present. The vacuum system needs to be checked for leaks. A bad break booster can also be an issue if the brake pedal is hard. There can also be a possibility of the inability of the brake fluid to reach a particular part in the brake system due to some obstruction.

Pedal Easily Pressed without any Effect: If you press the brake pedal to the floor and it has no effect on the brakes, the brake fluid needs to be checked. There can be air present in the brake fluid that can also cause this problem. A bad master cylinder can be a possible cause for the brakes to have no pressure. The worst thing about master cylinders is that they can't be repaired and have to be replaced.

Intermittent Action of Brakes: When you apply the brakes, they are supposed to react in a smooth and even manner. If the pedal is pressed for a longer duration, and the car gets brake power for a second and loses power the next, possibly, the brake pads and discs are to be blamed. If the discs have gone bad, they need to be replaced. But the disc replacement should always be done in pairs and not one sided.

Before repair the brakes,, you need some tool kits or machines for the action. For example , the on car disk brake lathe, drum brake machine are very good choices to repair or renew or replace the brake. They will save your money and time.