What Repairs To Do On A Used Car Once You Get It

How to Repair Your Car Brakes

Last Updated March 25, 2022

Brakes are the nearly essential safety characteristic of any vehicle, so only fix them yourself if you have the right tools and plenty confidence to practise the job well. You can learn how to change the brake pads and rotors yourself in no fourth dimension at all. Equally with almost of the really important parts of the car, the design of the brakes hasn't changed much in years, which is good considering once you larn how to replace the brakes you can apply that knowledge to all cars old and new.

How Brakes Work

The brakes operate using a simple hydraulic system that transfers the pressure you apply to the pedal onto the brake pads and rotors. When you button down on the brake pedal, a lever pushes a piston into the master cylinder that'southward filled with hydraulic fluid. This fluid is and so squirted along pipes which feed another cylinder positioned next to the brakes to complete an hydraulic system that multiplies the force you put into the pedal.

Knowing When to Replace the Brakes

With some cars you'll know the instant the brakes need irresolute because you'll need to apply them earlier than normal to stop for the corner but with other cars that's not then obvious, particularly if you're used to driving a truck with different loads in the back and on different road surfaces which mean you adjust your driving way to lucifer the condition of the route and the weight of the vehicle. When the brake pads wear down, you lot'll start to hear a squeaking noise whenever you try and tiresome the vehicle. Thankfully some newer cars have brake pad sensors that warning the driver when the pads need replacing.

Preparation

According to home services websites, the average cost of changing pads and rotors on a typical car is $324. That varies from state to state just you lot tin await to relieve part of those costs if you do the work yourself. To brainstorm the chore you'll demand to buy new brake pads and rotors. When you get home, put the auto in brake and then begin the task past loosening the lug nuts. Now heighten the jack and then rest the car on jack stands.

Replacing the Brakes

At present remove the bolts from the caliper and slide it out. Now remove the bolts on the rear of the hub that keeps the caliper carrier in place. You might need to whack the rotor with a hammer to become information technology off. Do whatever information technology takes because you lot don't need the sometime rotor anyway. Now use a wire castor to remove rust from the hub before installing the new rotor. Then you supervene upon the caliper carrier bolts and you'll be ready to shrink the caliper piston. Do this until the piston is flush with the housing of the caliper. To complete the task, install pads in the carrier and use some grease on the outside of the pad for smooth operating.

To Finish

Put the wheel dorsum on and tighten the lug basics to complete the job. Although yous've got new pads and rotors on the vehicle, you lot'll hear some squeaking to brainstorm with. That'southward normal when you lot've inverse the brakes. To become rid of that, drive on a highway at around 60 MPH and then gradually decrease speed to forty using the brakes. Exercise the aforementioned from fifty to thirty MPH a few times and and then but drive around and use the brakes equally normal. You'll soon notice the dissonance go abroad.