Regular inspection and preventive maintenance can do a lot to keep you braking system in top shape. But wear and tear can happen, and repairs are inevitable. Find out what they involve below.
BRAKE ABCs
The main parts of a braking system are the brake pads, brake rotor (or discs) and brake calipers (unless your car has drums, in which case you have shoes, drums and cylinders). There are also brake lines and hoses, which carry the brake fluid from the master cylinder to the braking components of each wheel (when you press the brake pedal).
ALL THE SIGNSÂ ARE THERE
There are easy ways to know something is wrong: a squealing noise when braking, longer stopping distances, or even more simply, the dashboard light is on. But there a more subtle ways, like a soft brake pedal or vibrations in the brake pedal.
DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM
In order to fix the issue, you must first know what it is. This is done through a visual inspection of the parts, but maybe also a test drive, a brake fluid check, or using a diagnostic tool.
Then you usually have to replace broken parts (pads, rotors, and calipers), or fix a leaky brake line. And finally, brakes must be tested before going out on the road again.