Brake Repair Tools for DIY Mechanics

Today's "do it yourself" attitude in America is the result of two things. First, the wealth of knowledge available to us from the Internet has made doing it yourself a lot easier than it used to be. Also, the recent downturn in the economy has had many Americans trying to do anything they can to save money. Although most people may not be skilled enough to perform most types of brake repair, changing the brake pads is something that most people can do with a little hard work, an afternoon and a few inexpensive, simple tools. In this article, we will talk about a few of the tools necessary to perform a brake pad replacement and how they are used properly.

The first tool necessary for properly replacing worn brake pads, as well as anything else on your car, is a simple mechanic's tool set. Although a huge set of mechanic's tools may sound expensive, you can actually find many options for under $100 these days. A good set includes several sizes of open-ended wrenches in metric and standard sizes. It will also include several standard and metric sockets in 1/4, 3/8 or " sizes with the appropriate socket wrenches. A good set also usually includes several extenders and adapters to make use of the socket wrench easier. Most sets include a handy carrying case to keep all the parts together and clean.

Now that you have your good set of mechanic's tools, the next most important tools you'll need for changing brake pads is normal tire changing tools. A jack is needed to jack the car up. The jack that comes with your car will work, but an aftermarket floor jack is preferred. The floor jack will allow you to jack the car in less than half the time, and it will be more secure once in the air. You'll need a jack stand to hold the car in the air once jacked up as well. You will also need a lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts. The factory lug wrench will do, but if you can't find it, you can find an inexpensive 4 headed lug wrench at an auto parts store.

The last tool needed for most brake pad replacements is a c-clamp for holding the calipers in when reinstalling them. Once you get the tire off and uninstall the caliper, you'll need to grease the new pads and reinstall them into the calipers. Then you can use the c-clamp to hold the pressure of the caliper back when installing it on the rotor.

Purchasing a few inexpensive tools from the auto parts store will allow you to perform many tasks involved in simple brake repair. Once you have the tools, you'll save money by not paying an expert to do simple tasks involved in brake repair.

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Brake Repair Tips You Should Be Aware Of

Brake repair is something that most vehicle owners may eventually need. As the vehicle is driven, wear and tear set in and there are some parts that need to be checked, maintained and repaired. Going to a service garage is always a good idea, especially if the owner is not so knowledgeable when it comes to machines and engines. The trick is choosing the right garage and knowing what to check and ask the mechanic.

Learn

Learning something about what needs to be fixed in a vehicle will do the owner a lot of good. Entrusting the job fully to the mechanic is okay as long as one knows the extent of the fixing that needs to be done. It always pays to know something about a car's braking system in order to avoid being duped.

One thing that the vehicle owner needs to do is to catch up on what he or she thinks is wrong with it. For example, when the automobile pulls to a specific direction while the individual is stepping on the brakes it is a wise move to actually research the problem initially before bringing it to the service garage for brake repair. The internet is a wide and accommodating field in which one can learn various things. A friend who is knowledgeable in automobiles can also be of great help in these matters. Even if the vehicle is not manifesting problems with its braking system, ask a vehicle savvy friend about the possible issues that may rise from these. Questioning the need for additional repairs can also stall any unnecessary jobs from being added to the job order.

Beware

Beware of lost cost brake repair promos that some service garages might advertise. Trustworthy garages do give discounted promos nut not cheap ones if they need to do a good job on the vehicles. It is a good idea to remember that vehicle repairs can be costly and one should beware of too good to be true discounts and promos. It is possible that there are additional costs that will be added to the base price when the customer takes the plunge. Always ask questions when something smells fishy or too good to be true. Additional jobs may be added to the initial service order and these might be necessary or unnecessary. Some damage to the braking system may affect other parts and it is reasonable that the technician will want to do a good job by recommending an all-encompassing job. In this connection, if the problem with the vehicle's braking system is not serious, the owner will benefit by going through several service garages for a second or third opinion.

Recommendations from friends and relatives may help to narrow down which garages to bring the vehicle to for an assessment. When the bill is presented, it is best to take one's time to peruse it and study the orders listed on it. A brake repair job may be simply changing the pads or a complicated overhaul of the system. Ask about additional costs that might appear on the bill to be clarified.

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Brake Repair Tips For The Service

Brakes do not usually fail suddenly. They seem to stop working quickly in the movies. In everyday life, your brakes are more likely to begin to lose effectiveness slowly over time. When you notice that you have to press your brakes harder to stop, or if you feel a grinding sensation when you try to stop your vehicle, you should consider getting a brake repair job. Chances are, you are not imagining the problems associated with your vehicle. The problems might have occurred gradually and you might not have notice the problems at the time.

For example, sometime you might not hear the squealing associated with your brakes right away. When you are driving and there are loud sounds coming from the road, it is easy to miss the sound made from squeaky brakes. When you take your vehicle in for its usual maintenance, you might want to ask the mechanic to take a look at your brakes. He or she will inform you if there is a potential problem. If you are observant, however, you might notice the inconsistencies yourself. As soon as you notice that you are having a problem with your vehicle, you should plan to take it in to the mechanic. You are more likely to get fast service if you take your vehicle in for repairs during the week. Therefore, it might be necessary that you take off from work.

Depending on the issue, your brake repair work might take several hours to complete. Therefore, it might be necessary for you to make arrangements to use a rental vehicle while your vehicle is at the mechanic's. Before your mechanic begins to work on the vehicle, be clear on which services are required and the costs. The mechanic should be able to give you information about parts that are failing. He or she might ask you to go into the shop and view the damage to your brakes. Showing you the damaged parts will give you a better idea of how your brakes have worn. The mechanic will then tell you exactly what he or she will do to repair the damage. Do not forget to ask when your vehicle might be ready. Keep in mind that it could take longer for the repairs to be completed, especially if the mechanic is busier than usual. Be sure to hire a mechanic that you trust, otherwise you will always have questions regarding the feasibility of the work.

Ask the mechanic if he test drove the vehicle before you leave to pick it up. You should also be prepared to drive the vehicle around the block, just to test the brake repair job. Although you may be in a hurry, take your time and drive the vehicle in the area and test out the brakes. Stop quickly and then stop gradually. If there are any hills in the immediate area, you should try to stop the vehicle on an incline if it is safe to do so. A parking lot that is on an incline would be best for test driving your vehicle.

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Brake Repair Times When It Is Safe To Drive

When a vehicle needs brake repair, the driver should be able to bring it to the service garage. Some drivers have second thoughts about driving their vehicle since it seems dangerous. This is a very correct assumption, when the driver or vehicle owner is in doubt as to the state of the automobile it is better to have the mechanic come and see it before bringing it to be serviced or to have it towed or brought there. In spite of this safety precaution, there are times when it is still possible to drive the automobile to the mechanic without risk of an accident. This saves the car owner the cost of the towing and the mechanic visit.

Squeaking Brakes

The whine or squeak that emanates from the braking system when it is used is a sign that the vehicle is in need of brake repair. Although there are instances when the whine or squeak only happens when the driver uses the automobile initially in the morning. As the morning goes by, the sound goes away. This is a sign that the system may just have needed a warm up from the cold night. If the sound is still there after several hours of driving and trying out the stopping mechanism, then it is high time to bring it to the service garage. This manifestation is a sign that the pads might need to be replaced. Although there is an actual need to immediately replace the pads after this manifestation, the driver can still drive to the auto shop. There is no actual need to have the vehicle towed to it.

Dragging Brakes

This sign happens when the driver notices that the vehicle turns or pulls slightly to one side while he or she is stepping on the braking system pedal. If the pull is still very slight the driver can still drive to the service garage for brake repair. In doing this, the speed should be slow and there should be some care on the part of the driver when maneuvering towards the shop of the mechanic. If the pull is strong and there is some difficulty driving, then the driver should pull to the side and not drive the vehicle anymore. Insisting on driving can result to danger, not only to the vehicle owner but also to other drivers and pedestrians on the road.

Slow Reaction

Brake repair may also be necessary when the reaction of the pedal is slow. Usually, when it is depressed or stepped upon, the rise should be immediate. There are times when the rise is quite slow and this should be a cause for alarm. The driver should bring the vehicle immediately to a reputable shop with a good mechanic. In doing so, caution should be exercised and if the driver is in doubt regarding the state of the pedal, then the services of a tow truck should be called on. This is a trickier situation than those described above and the system could be leaking fluid. If there are signs of a leak, then the owner should not even try to drive the vehicle at all.

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Brake Repair The Most Common Repair

The most common type of brake repair lies within the hydraulics of the system. Brake fluid is vital to the brakes because it transfers force into pressure, which helps the other components of the braking system work correctly. The force needed to stop the car is far greater than the force applied when the operator of the vehicle presses their foot on the brake pedal. The fluid provides the hydraulic force needed to efficiently operate the brakes with the force needed. Often times, it needs to be flushed out of the car, and replaced because old fluid has a lower boiling point, and tends to attract moisture.

The excess moisture can cause rust, and is especially damaging to anti-lock braking systems. Mechanics recommend a flush every 30,000 miles, it is good preventative maintenance toward keeping the system working efficiently. Bleeding is simply letting some of the fluid out to remove the air pockets that have become trapped in the system. Checking the brake fluid can provide details of any required maintenance from refilling, to leaks.

Another common brake repair is replacing the brake pads. The pads lie within the disc and provide a buffer between the calipers and the rotors. When the brakes are applied, the caliper squeezes the pads into the rotor, which stops the vehicle. Although there isn't a specific mileage milestone to indicate a need for new pads, the pads are equipped with a a small metal tab that will rub against the rotor and make a squealing noise when they have worn thin and need replacement. Ignoring this warning signal for too long can lessen braking efficiency and cause serious damage to the rotors.

The master cylinder controls the volume of fluid that is forced through the system. When the master cylinder malfunctions, there is an internal leak that is not always immediately detected by brake fluid leaking from the car. Attention should be given to this component if the pedal slowly sinks to the floor when the pedal is applied, or if the operator must 'pump' the brakes in order for the pedal to return to normal pressure. A red warning light will also appear on the dashboard if there is a problem with the master cylinder. If leaking is more obvious, the problem my be with the tubes or hoses that carry the fluid from the master cylinder.

The braking system has many components working together that enable safe operation of a vehicle. Always pay attention to how the brakes feel when pressure is applied, and take the car to a certified mechanic for preventative maintenance. Never put off repairs to the braking system.

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Brake Repair Symptoms - Squeaking All The Way Home

You have likely heard a car whether your own or someone else's that had brakes that squeaked when they stopped. Perhaps you know nothing about brake repair and thought to yourself that you or they either need to get their brakes checked, or maybe you thought the sound was simply from stopping fast. It really can be a variety of things, and it is a good idea for you to know them, so that you will know what to consider if your own vehicle's brakes make a squeaking noise.

The pads for brakes were actually at one point made out of asbestos, which is a very dangerous material. This material has been removed from a variety of places and it has been replaced with safer materials. When it comes to a vehicle's brakes, they too have been replaced with a material that is much harder and that will be more resilient. The disadvantage to this type of pad is that it does tend to be noisier. That is one possibility as to what could cause a squeaking sound in your brakes. This would not necessitate brake repair unless of course these pads were worn out. You would not know this unless you visit a mechanic.

The squeaking sound that your brakes might make may also be caused by the weather. If the weather is especially humid, or if you are driving in an area that is sandy or dusty, your brakes might squeak from this. With this being a possibility, it might give you some hope that you will not need to put out the money to have brake repair, but you will still want to get them checked to be certain. Be sure and ask the mechanic if this is what could be causing it just in case you get a mechanic that could replace brakes that are not yet ready to be replaced.

Another possibility as to the source of the squeaking in your brakes is the type of car you own. Smaller cars sometimes have brakes that make more noise than larger cars. You might notice this happening especially when it is cold outside or wet especially when you first start driving.

If your problem is due to the hardness of the particular pads that are on your vehicle, then there are some options that you can speak with your mechanic about. One option is to ask about different pads that might not make so much noise. Another option is to reduce the hard surface of the pads with sandpaper, or even to use a spray made from milk or use lotion on the pads.

None of these issues are major, so it is good to know that squeaking might not always be something expensive. You might think the conditions are right for the above problems, and you might think that one of them could be your issue, but nonetheless, you should still seek out a brake repair mechanic to make sure, or to get help with any of the remedies to the noise.

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Brake Repair Some Tips On Your Car's Brakes

Your car's brakes are one of the most important safety features of your car and when they malfunction, you and everyone on the road around you is unsafe. Your car's braking system will warn you before they simply go out in a variety of ways so you really have no excuse not to address the issue before it becomes a safety issue.

Clearly there are a lot of different components that go into your brakes and those components can all play a role in why your brakes are not functioning the way they should. Your brakes themselves consist of brake pads, brake shoes, calibers, and rotors and combined with other aspect of your braking system such as braking fluid and the master cylinder, your brakes work in conjunction with your automobile to keep you safely going on the roadways. When one component goes out of whack the whole system can go down with it.

The most obvious warning will be squealing brakes. Brakes, much like children, should be seen and not heard. If you can hear your brakes, you need to have a mechanic take a look at them as soon as possible to access what type of brake repair job your car likely needs. The squealing noise you hear is a deliberate design of your braking system and it is the sound of metal touching metal on your brakes. Once your brake pads have worn down to this point, they need to be replaced. Replacing brake pads or shoes is probably the most common type of brake repair job that most car owners have done to keep their brakes functioning properly followed by replacing or shaving down worn out rotors.

Other indicators of bad brakes and a possible brake repair job looming in your future are things like your brakes feeling spongy or going all the way to the ground before they actually take hold or being grabby when you just tap the brake pedal. In other words anything that doesn't feel right or normal to you probably isn't and should be checked out. The good news here is it is possible that low braking fluid levels and not the need for new shoes, pads or rotors is causing your spongy or grabby brakes. If your brake fluid is low your brakes won't be able to work properly and this generally just requires adding fluid to the brake reservoir.

You should do annual brake inspections on your vehicle when you change out your seasonal tires to ensure your brakes are in good condition and if not, you can at least be prepared for the brake repair job cost by planning for it in your budget.

Take good care of your brakes and your car will remain a safe mode of transportation for you and your loved ones and get you where you need to go safely each time.

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Brake Repair Recognize Your Warning Signs

If you find yourself in a situation where you need optimum stopping time out of your vehicle, it's a bad feeling to realize you can't count on your braking system. You can avoid running into this problem by making sure your brake repair and maintenance responsibilities have always been taken care of. How do you do this? You can start by following your manufacturer's guidelines as it pertains to getting the proper work done. Besides that, you need to be attuned to the warning signs that your car will give you when it's time to see a mechanic. Here are some of them and what they could mean.

Squeals and Grinding

These are the two most common warning signs that tell drivers that it's time for a new set of pads. If you ignore heavy grinding for long, you could wind up needing extensive brake repair work, and it won't be cheap. The best practice is to get your car in front of a mechanic as soon as you notice any unusual sounds when you stop your car. A good set of pads is necessary to ensure proper braking speeds. When they get below 25% of their original size, you can begin to experience some of the issues that go along with worn pads. Get it fixed and get back on the road.

Acrid Smell

This is one of those things that few brake repair specialists will tell you about, but it's something to be aware of. An acrid smell or a burning odor could mean that your calipers aren't fully releasing from the rotors when you take your foot off the braking pedal. This can really reduce your gas mileage and put a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on your braking system. Of course, it isn't something to be overly concerned about it you only smell it once. It also accompanies a really heavy stomp on the brakes, so if you just had to skid to a stop, that may be all there is to it.

Squishy Pedal

Your pedal should respond fairly immediately when you press on it. If it isn't, and you're having to press it down further and further each time, you are suffering from squishy pedal syndrome. The causes are variable, but all of them need the attention of a brake repair expert. The most common cause is air in the system, which can be fixed rather quickly. Unfortunately, excess air in the system could mean you have a leak in the master cylinder, which is nothing to mess around with. At worst, squishy pedal syndrome could mean you are on the way to complete system failure, so don't make the mistake of ignoring this problem.

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