Brakes are the most important safety feature for any vehicle. The brake system of a car is far more than just a brake pedal. The complete braking system consists of several interlocking pieces and several small components working in a synchronised manner. If even a single piece is out of sync, there is a misalignment of the whole braking system. This is the reason brake repairs are necessary for every minute problem.
4 types of brake systems in cars:
- Disc brakes
- Drum brakes
- Emergency brakes
- Anti-lock brakes
All these types of braking systems are essential for a car and you should get brake repairs whenever you spot a sign of a dysfunction. The signs that indicate that you need to get brake repairs are:
- The car pulls to one side when you press on the brakes.
- More pressure is required to be applied on the brakes for bringing the car to a stop.
- Brakes drag even when the brakes are not being applied.
- The brake pedal feels mushy.
- Brake pedal feels hard while pressing.
- Squealing sounds while applying brakes.
- Low level of brake fluid.
- leaking brake fluid.
- Pedal pulsation while applying brakes.
Brake repairs and services consist of several tasks like replacing the brake pads, machining or replacing the brake rotors, checking the brake oil level, etc. There are 5 common types of brake repairs each car generally needs:
#1. Brake pad replacement:
This is one of the most common brake repair services. Generally, car manufacturers recommend that you get your car’s brake pads replaced after every 20,000 miles. Quality brake pads can last up to 50,000 miles and low-quality ones can wear out even before 10,000 miles. Brake pads have to wear indicator that helps you determine whether there is a need of replacement or not. If your brakes are squeaking, it is high time you changed the brake pads.
Brake Repair |
#2. Line replacement:
Brake lines are the veins of the brake system. They carry the fluid from master cylinder to each part of the brake system, keeping everything lubricated and in working order. It has to absolutely clean and there can be no scope of contamination. Even the smallest puncture in the brake lining can lead to dirt entering the interiors of the braking system and disrupting it. Brake line replacement or repair is mostly an emergency repair service like a tire puncture.
#3. Brake oil replacement:
This is referred to as bleeding. This is the process of draining out all the brake fluid and replacing it with new fluid. This is needed when the oil gets contaminated by dirt due to holes in the brake lines. This is done when the brake pad feels softer and you need a lot of pressure to stop the car.
Brake Repair |
#4. Part replacement:
This is the extreme level of brake repairs. As the brake system consists of several small parts, there is a possibility of any of these parts breaking down due to wear and tear. The most common issue is of calipers wearing out. There are other smaller components like pins, pistons, metal arm, shins, springs, boots, screws, etc. Every component of the braking system is extremely complex and each has to be well maintained and repaired on time. A single malfunctioning part can break the whole system down and eventually the brakes fail and there are chances of an occurrence of a mishap which would be the most unfavorable outcome.
Brakes are the ones which enable you to have a complete control over the car. So, its repair and maintenance is the key to safe driving.