When cars were first mass-produced, they had manual gear shifts or drum brakes. Today most cars have power or disc brakes which are the heart of the safety system of your car. It is very important to familiarize yourself with the parts and workings of your brakes for the sake of any passengers, yourself and pedestrians. This might be complicated if you are new at understanding cars but well worth the effort when you know the safety of everyone around you depends on the proper functioning of the brake system.
Instructions
- 1
Check the brake fluid level and add more to reach the fill mark if needed. Low fluid levels can cause the brakes to work sluggishly and inefficiently.
2Ensure that the brake lines are intact and secured properly. Any damage in the lines or poor seal will allow fluid to leak and prevent the brake fluid from travelling through the system.
3Remove any items that are restricting the movement of the brake pedals within the foot well or behind the firewall.
4Raise the front of the car on car jacks and take off the wheels using a lug nut wrench. Pull the wheels off the car so you can access the brake pads and calipers.
5Check between the pads and the wheel disc. If the pad and the disc rub against each other when the brakes are not in use, you will need to replace them for new ones.
6Take off the pads and check for dirt or oil that may have gotten in the way. This kind of build-up can interfere with the performance of the brakes.
7Lower the front and raise the back of the car to remove the back wheels. Check the drums for wear, dirt or damage and replace if needed.
8Tighten the mounting equipment on the front and rear brakes with a wrench to reduce noise and resistance from the brakes.
