Complete Brake Components service guide

• Worn pads and shoes replaced

• Brake caliper service

• Rotor and drum resurfacing (may need replacement if wear is excessive)

• Wheel bearings repacked as needed

• Replacement of other components based on findings of inspection

• Old brake fluid is replaced with fresh fluid

•  Brake line leak repair

• Adjust parking brake

• Lubrication for specified components

• Brake light diagnosis

• Road test to ensure the entire braking system is operating  properly

  
  

An automobile without working brakes is risky. Often, warning indicators will let you know whether your car's brakes require repair.

● While applying brakes, squealing or grinding sounds might indicate that your brakes require adjustment or that your brake pads must be changed since they are worn out.

.● The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) light on your dashboard illuminates. This suggests that you have low brake fluid. Your brake line can be leaking. Have it checked.

 ● Your automobile pulls to one side during brake application. This indicates that your brakes require adjustment, a brake fluid leak, or need replacement since they are worn out.

 ● You have trouble applying the brakes(hard) or they seem "spongy." Usually, this indicates that air has gotten into your brake lines or that your brake fluid level may be low.

 ● If your steering wheel, brake pedal, or entire vehicle starts to tremble when you apply the brakes. It indicates your brake rotors may be warped and need to be replaced.

Let’s have a quick look on the main components one by one.

Because brakes need friction and brake pad wear to work, some dust is also unavoidable. Additionally, brake corrosion and dust are undesirable and damaging to your wheels. Due to the way they are designed, your wheels will constantly be exposed to brake dust. You must frequently clean your brake rotors to maintain effective brakes.

Despite its strength, steel has certain flaws, notably rust. Steel rusts when it is in contact with moisture. Steel may rust more quickly when exposed to much moisture, especially when mixed with road salt. Rust in a brake system can compromise component longevity and, more significantly, driver safety.

It's important to understand that not all types of rust are dangerous; some brake system rust is common. The steel brake rotor may become wet and develop a very thin layer of rust after spending the night in a downpour or a lot of snow. These thin rust coatings are only present on the steel rotor's surface and naturally, dissolve after a short driving period. The brake pads remove impurities from the brake rotor surfaces, including mild surface corrosion, each time the brakes are applied.

If your car is left stationary for a few days, the rotors will probably start to rust. This minor rust may be removed by just driving. Just perform some stop-and-go driving before checking the rotors. Consider taking the following actions if you can still observe corrosion in progress, choosing the one that best suits your time and tool availability.

Rotor resurfacing removes extra material to reduce the thickness of the rotor to accommodate the new brake pads. In the past, the rotors were heavy and thick. So, it was common to resurface the rotors whenever the brake pads were changed. But nowadays, rotors are light and thin; therefore, rotor resurfacing is less common. Resurfacing is still possible if a rotor is determined to have an adequate thickness for resurfacing and is neither deformed nor damaged.

Since there are speed limitations, it doesn't matter how fast or swiftly your automobile can travel. But stopping is another story. The safety of your car, you, and your passengers depends on its braking system.

Brake rotors deteriorate with time. They could warp, crack, or develop deep score marks over time. They must be replaced if this occurs.

•  Vehicle Jack

•  Jack stand

•  Spanner Set

•  Ratch Set

•  Torque Wrench

•  Socket Set

•  Screwdriver

•  Wire brush

Ensure you take all the safety measures and take the help of a professional if required. Finally, take a test drive to check the proper braking operation. The braking system's brake rotors are an essential part, therefore thoroughly verify your work before starting a test drive.

Brake shoes should last roughly 80,000km. You should get your brake shoes examined at least once a year, but you do not need to wait for a regular brake checkup to have them examined. Ask your mechanic to examine the rear drum brake system during an oil change or anytime any rear wheel is removed. Because of the vehicle's braking bias, rear brake shoes typically last roughly twice as long as brake pads. Front brakes (usually disc brakes) absorb more braking force than rear brakes (usually drum brakes).

Drum brakes have not typically been a standard feature of more recent automobiles. However, some manufacturers continue to use this technology. The brake shoes of a car with drum brakes will ultimately need to be changed. When that time comes, by using these practical tips, you'll be able to do the work yourself. And before starting any repair or replacement, it is recommended to refer to your car's user manual. 

• Jacks and jack stands

• Tire Iron

• Ratchet/ Socket Set

• Digital micrometer

• Drum brake tool kit

• Flathead Screwdriver

• Brake Cleaner

• Brake lubricant

• Protective gloves

•  Repair manuals

• Safety glasses

New parts also may be required such as brake drum, wheel cylinders, hold-down springs, brake retaining clip, adjusting screw spring, hold-down pins, return springs, etc. To purchase high-quality parts you can refer to our ultimate brake shoe buying guide. After preparing the workstation and ensuring all safety measures, you can start servicing brake shoes.

When you apply the brakes, "pads" of specially developed friction material made of organic, metallic, or ceramic substances are forced against a rotor or "disc." The friction that results slows the vehicle. Disc brakes are standard on the front axles of all modern cars and many rear axles. You can refer to our brake pads buying guide for detailed information about brake pads.

• Squeaking or squealing coming from brakes
• Grinding noise during braking
• Brake pad indicator light illuminates
• Brakes taking a long time to stop
• Vibration while braking
• Spongy pedal

Tool Required

• Jacks and jack stands

• Tire Iron

• Ratchet

• Socket Set

• Digital micrometer

• Flathead Screwdriver

• C- clamp

Material Required

• Brake Cleaner

• Brake lubricant

• Protective gloves

• Repair manuals

• Safety glasses

Park the car on a plain surface. After placing the chocks behind the front wheel, release the parking brake. After taking all the safety measures, you can begin serving brake pads. 

Finally, take a test drive to check the proper braking operation. Start your car and pump your brake pedal a few times to rebuild the pressure on your brakes. When you feel pressure, move forward slowly and gently and try your brakes. Test your car brakes by driving around (both forward and backward). Avoid heavy braking for the first few kilometers (25-30km).

The heart of the car's braking system, the brake caliper, is the component that houses the assembly, which further aids in stopping the car. Calipers are positioned on each wheel and act to squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to halt the wheel spin and slow the vehicle. To learn more about brake calipers, refer to our ultimate brake caliper buying guide.

Here is a simple, step-by-step explanation of the approaches you can take to maintain or replace your calipers.

Step 1: The first step in performing home brake caliper service is to remove the caliper guide pin bolts. If you're unclear about where these bolts are located on your caliper system, check the owner's handbook of your car. The guide pin bolts are important for securing your brake calipers to the braking system. 

Step 2: Pull the brake caliper loose from the bracket. In a floating caliper system, separating the brake caliper from the caliper bracket is easy. As the brake hose is still attached to the caliper, hold the brake caliper up slightly to ensure there is no extra pressure on the brake hose.

Step 3: Once the caliper is detached, coat the caliper with brake cleaner and scrape away any accumulated dirt or rust with a toothbrush or a tiny wire brush.

Step 4: After cleaning the caliper, perform a visual check to identify any wear and tear or evident damage/warping.

Some owner's manuals provide a braking system illustration showing exactly where each brake caliper system's component is positioned. If you're trying to learn how to maintain your car's braking system independently, an owner's handbook might be helpful.

The brake calipers are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. However, they will unavoidably experience some wear and tear due to the road, the surroundings, and driving patterns. Usually, the brake caliper should last at least 160,000 km or 10 years. If, in case, the replacement is required, here is a step-by-step guide to replacing brake calipers.

Tool Required

• Jacks and jack stands

• Tire Iron

• Ratchet/ Socket Set

• Digital micrometer

• Flathead Screwdriver

• C- clamp

Material Required

• Brake caliper

• Brake fluid

• Brake lubricant

• Protective gloves

• Repair manuals

• Safety glasses

After ensuring all the safety measures, you can start brake pad replacement. After all, replacements, add the new brake fluid and bleed the system. Removing all of the braking fluid from the system and replacing it with fresh brake fluid is recommended. Confirm the assembly is correct and test it's working.

Wheel bearings are sets of steel balls housed in a metal ring. They allow the wheels to move smoothly and with little friction. Hubs are hollow pieces of metal located in the middle of a vehicle's wheels. Wheel bearings fit firmly into hubs and ride on metal axle shafts, reducing friction while the wheels spin. Wheel bearing usually has an average lifespan of 135,000 to 160,000 km. Wheel bearings are an important component of vehicle performance. They are essential to the proper operation of any vehicle because they let the wheel revolve smoothly.

Furthermore, wheel bearings are required to reduce the friction generated by various other components of the drive train system. When they are broken or need to be changed, if not, major difficulties may arise, which can be quite costly in the long run. Furthermore, if wheel bearings are not replaced by a professional auto technician using the right tools, the damage might worsen.

The following are some of the most prevalent reasons for wheel bearing failure:

• Uneven Roads: The longer you travel over uneven terrain, the more probable your wheel bearings may become damaged and worn. The steel balls will become damaged over time, limiting their capacity to reduce friction for wheels. You must take your automobile to an auto repair shop at that moment.
• Driving Conditions: Driving in mud, water, or road salt frequently can cause wheel bearing failure. Contaminants can enter the bearings through the seals, polluting the grease and causing bearing failure.
• Quality: The wheel bearing quality, like every other automotive item, significantly affects how long it will function. Bearings are precise items that need complicated production procedures. Poor heat-treating in low-quality steel can cause spalling and early wear, as well as the presence of hard or soft metal, which leads to failure. It is critical to contact a reputable auto parts store to ensure that your vehicle is outfitted with robust, long-lasting wheel bearings. You can buy the best quality bearing here.
• Poor Installation: The use of the incorrect tools might cause damage to the outside or inside of the wheel end bearing. As a result, the wheel bearing fails early. Reusing old accessories, such as nuts, bolts, splint pins, and seals, can cause wheel end bearings to operate in a risky manner, increasing the chance of an accident. That's why it is recommended to service bearing only from professionals.  
• Tire Imbalance: Ensuring your vehicle's tires are balanced is essential to any decent car service. Otherwise, some wheel bearings may be subjected to greater strain and stress than others, resulting in damage. If you feel your tires are uneven, take your vehicle to a repair shop and have a professional inspect it.

 Driving on a faulty wheel bearing exerts strain on the hub, CV joint, brake components, and, eventually, the gearbox. Replacing wheel bearings is a rather complicated process; therefore, expert assistance is required. 

Brake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid used in car hydraulic brake and clutch applications. It is used to transfer force into pressure and to increase braking force. The primary function of brake fluid is to transfer the force exerted at the brake pedal through various components to actuate the brake pads or shoes at the wheels to stop or slow the vehicle. Brake fluid service includes replacing the brake fluid in the vehicle’s hydraulic brake system.

Having a low brake fluid level? Refilling it is very simple.

1. Park your car on a level surface.

2. If the brake fluid reservoir cap is dirty, clean it so that no debris falls into the reservoir.

3. Take off the cap. If the fluid is excessively black or contains debris, you need to see a workshop for a brake fluid replacement, since the fluid may have reached the end of its useful life.

4. Add brake fluid slowly and cautiously to the reservoir until the level reaches the maximum fill mark.

5. Screw the reservoir cap back on tightly.

6. Drive your car for a short amount of time, brake occasionally, then check the fluid again while parked on a level place to ensure a successful refill.

The brake line is a steel line that is essential to the operation of the whole braking system. Applying the brake pedal transmits pressure to the master cylinder, which further forces brake fluid along the brake line. The braking mechanism engages when the brake fluid reaches the cylinders at each wheel. Depending on the type of brake (disc or drum), the machine stops the wheel. 

A damaged brake line is one of the probable causes of brake failure, which can be identified through brake fluid leakage. The hydraulics won't work if your brake line is broken since the brake fluid can't reach the tire's braking mechanism. Most brake systems include two distinct circuits, providing a split braking system to prevent full brake failure.

Front/rear: One pair of brake lines manages the front brakes, while the other set manages the back brakes. If one pair fails, the other will function.

Diagonal: Right-front and left-rear brakes are controlled by one set of brake lines, while a different set of brake lines controls left-front and right-rear brakes. This way, if one set fails, the other will function.

If in case, both brake line circuits fail, there will be a complete brake failure.

It is possible to replace the brake line on your own but it's advised that you let a qualified mechanic do the work. When you are repairing brake lines, there is no room for error. A mistake might lead to more damage to your car and, more critically, a catastrophic traffic collision. Because of this, hiring a professional to do it for you is always safer. And one more important thing is the quality of the brake line. You can buy the best quality brake line here.

The parking brake, emergency brake, hand brake, or e-brake is linked to a cable directly connected to the brake system. When you use the parking brake, the cable is instantly pulled, and the parking brake is actuated. It is independent of the hydraulic brake system and can save you when it fails. The parking brake should not be engaged during normal driving because it can damage the parking brake cable or brake shoes and rotors of the hydraulic brake system.

Parking brake cables can weaken and rust over time, making them lose, slack, or even break. In cold temperatures, the parking brake might become jammed. So, the parking wire has to be adjusted, fixed, or replaced.

It is recommended to have the parking cable inspected by a professional to check whether there is any room for adjustment or if the adjustment is maxed out. If there is no room for adjustment, the parking cable should be replaced.

It is better to consult your owner’s manual and a professional mechanic because it depends on which brakes are used in the rear and which type of mechanism is used in the caliper. Also, to establish the correct spacing between the drum and shoe, some manufacturers advise using a drum diameter gauge in the case of a drum brake.

The brakes use friction on your car to slow down and stop. Brake pads are hydraulically pressed onto the brake rotor during the braking process. Although using a lubricant on a system that depends on friction may seem illogical, lubrication is necessary for brake performance. Brakes heat up to extremely high temperatures, even with moderate usage. Ordinary lubricants can melt at these severe temperatures and may drop or spray onto other brake system parts, such as brake pads and rotors. If brake rotors are too slick, they won't function. Plastic and rubber seals can degrade when lubricants made up of petroleum-based products are used. Use a silicone- or synthetic-based lubricant for lubricating regions containing plastic or rubber components. Use a dry film lubricant that comprises either graphite or molybdenum disulfide to lubricate metal-on-metal components. It's crucial to pay attention to where you apply lubricant while fitting brakes. Lubricate all the sliding or moving parts to guarantee quiet braking and optimal system performance. Applying lubrication to the friction side of the pad should be avoided at all costs.

• Clean off the brake system with a soft cloth for any loose debris, such as dirt or dust, before adding lubrication.
•  Apply brake cleaner to the braking system, then use a soft towel to dry the area.
• Remove any rust or other hardened materials from the braking system using a file or a small grinding tool.
• Once all of the dust, corrosion, and dirt have been eliminated, thoroughly clean the brake system once again using cleaner and a soft cloth.
• Finally, delicately coat the targeted region of focus with a tiny dab of lubricant applied to your finger. As was previously said, make sure to avoid lubricating friction areas.

• Bushings
• Pins
• Caliper slides
• Contact locations within the caliper housing where the pads move
• Self-adjusting mechanisms with locking calipers on rear disc brakes 
• Parking brake cables and linkage

• Star adjuster mechanisms
• The parking brake linkage or hinge points for self-adjusters
• The parking brake cables
• Raised pads that support the shoes on the backing plate.

Never apply lubricant to the drum's inside where the shoes make touch with it. Never use dry film lubricant in areas where rubber or plastic seals may come into contact. Limit your lubrication. It's crucial to prevent extra lubricant from seeping into unintended locations.

These repair/refurbish methods are provided for informational purposes only. Any damage or injury incurred in the practice of these methods is not the responsibility of PartsAvatar Canada. We always encourage you to consult a professional if you cannot perform the repairs/refurbish yourself.