Category Archives: Car Brakes

What to Use to Clean Brakes

Brake cleaner is a chemical product specifically formulated to do a specific job. There are other chemicals that can be used for cleaning, but many leave behind a residue that can contaminate linings and attack rubber components. Brake cleaners contain a variety of ingredients. Many have been reformulated to make them more environmentally friendly. For years, 1-1-1 trichloroethane was the Continue Reading...
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What Is Included In A Complete Brake Job?

A complete brake job should restore the vehicle’s brake system and braking performance to good-as-new condition. Anything less would be an incomplete brake job. Brake components that should be replaced will obviously depend upon the age, mileage and wear. There is no pat answer as to which items need replacing and which ones don’t. It’s a judgment call. A complete Continue Reading...
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Replacing Brake Linings

Replace semi-metallic brake linings with semi-metallics, nonasbestos organic (NAO) linings with nonasbestos, and asbestos linings with either asbestos or NAO. Asbestos linings should never be substituted for semi-metallics. Asbestos in such an application will wear too quickly and may not provide the stopping power necessary for safe braking. Semi-metallic linings are usually required on the front brakes of front-wheel drive Continue Reading...
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Replacing Brake Fluid

DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid are glycol based and absorb moisture over time. Moisture contamination causes the fluid boiling point to drop (which could lead to fluid boil and brake fade during hard use). Moisture contamination also contributes to internal corrosion in the calipers, wheel cylinders, and steel brake lines. The reason for replacing fluid periodically is to Continue Reading...
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Brakes Guide: If the ABS Warning Light is on, is it still safe to drive?

An ABS warning light means the ABS system has been deactivated because of a self-diagnosed fault. Normal braking should remain. The vehicle should be safe to drive provided the driver does not have to call on his ABS system when panic braking on a wet or slick surface. An ABS warning light may also indicate a loss of power-assist if Continue Reading...
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Brake Guide: Bleeding the brakes

Bleeding is a service procedure that involves purging air from the master cylinder, brake lines, calipers, and wheel cylinders. If there are air bubbles in the fluid, they will compress when the brakes are applied, causing either a low or soft pedal. Bleeding gets the air out, leaving only non-compressible brake fluid. Air can enter lines when the system is Continue Reading...
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Brake Guide: Brake Calipers

Any caliper that is leaking, has worn or damaged seals, or is causing brake pads to wear unevenly, needs to be rebuilt or replaced, but so do many calipers that appear to be trouble-free. After three or four years of service, most caliper bores and steel pistons have visible corrosion and pitting. As the surface of the piston becomes rough, Continue Reading...
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