In terms of vehicle safety, brakes are among the most important systems you need to maintain. If you hear grinding or squealing when you press your brake pedal, you should have them inspected immediately. There might be something wrong with your brakes that would increase the braking distance and reduce vehicle safety. The following are some things that might need to be addressed:
- Replace worn brake pads
- Replace or machine rotors
- Lubricate caliper slides and other metal contact points
- Flush brake fluid
- Clean and adjust brake shoes and hardware
- Examine brake wear sensors
As time passes, certain brake parts wear out, and will need to be serviced or replaced. Brakes can be either of the disc or drum type. Some vehicles have both. Disc brakes have calipers which use pads to grab the brake rotor and slow down your vehicle. Drum brakes push shoes on the inside of the drum to bring you to a stop. As the pads and shoes wear away they need to be replaced and the rotors which wear down may need to be replaced also. In some instances, the rotors can be machined to give them a new contact surface for the pads.
Generally front brakes wear out more quickly. The weight of the vehicle is transferred to the front as you slow, putting more pressure on the front brakes. Hondas and Volkswagens are some exceptions to this. The brake proportioning has been changed in these vehicles to decrease stopping distance by distributing the braking more evenly between the front and rear of the vehicle.
BMWs and Mercedes, have brake pad wear sensors. These sensors display an indicator light when the brakes have worn down. A light on the dashboard warns of needed service. When brakes are serviced on these vehicles it is normal to replace these sensors as well.
Fluids are important in your vehicle. In this case, we are concerned with brake fluid which is compressed when you press the brake pedal and your pads or shoes are brought into contact with the rotors or drums. This hydraulic system frequently absorbs moisture like a sponge. Water boils as heat is built in the system and steam doesn't compress the same way that brake fluid does. Therefore you should have this fluid flushed periodically.
By keeping this important system working properly you can insure that you and your family are safe when you are on the road.
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