WhatIsIncludedinaCompleteBrakeJob
A complete brake job should restorethe vehicle’s braking systemandbraking performanceto“goodas new” condition.Anythinglesswould bean incomplete brakejob.
• Brake componentsthatshouldbe replaced willobviouslydepend on the age,mileageand wear on the vehicle.There isnoone answerastowhich itemsneed tobe replacedandwhich onesdon’t. Itis a judgment call made from knowledge and experience of aprofessional.
• A complete brakejob shouldbegin witha thorough inspectionoftheentire brakesystem:the lining condition,rotors and drums,calipers and wheel cylinders, brake hardware andsprings,flexiblehosesandsteellines,andmastercylinder.
•Any hosesthatare foundto beage cracked,swollen,leaking or damaged in anyway mustbe replaced.Anyreplacementhosesmusthavetheproper fittings ofthesametypeastheoriginal,withdoubleflare or ISOfitting. Do notmixdifferent types offittings.
• Steellinesthatarerusty,kinked,leaking or damagedmustalso be replaced.Onlyapprovedsteellineisto be usedasreplacementwiththeproperdoubleflare or ISOfittings.
• Anycaliper or wheelcylinderthatis leaking mustbe replaced.The sameappliesto aseizedor poorly operating caliper orcylinder.Itis bestpractice toreplace eithertypeas apair.
• Mastercylinderleakswillusuallyshowexternallybut can also be identifiedby a brakepedalthatslowlysinkstothe floor underconstantpressure.
• Brake rotors mustbeinspectedforheat cracks,warpage orunevenwear.If the rotors areina usable condition,they canbe turned (machined) and reused iftheymeettolerancespecifications detailedbythemanufacturer.
• Rust, heatandagehavea detrimentaleffect onmostbrake hardware components. Ifthereis anydoubtabout theircondition,they should be replacedon both calipersanddrumbrake assemblies,astheyare a minimal expense.Neveruse regularchassisgrease oncaliper contact pointsandfloatingpins. A good-quality siliconebrake or hightemperaturesynthetic grease shouldbe used.
• Repacking and inspection of frontwheel bearings ona rearwheel drivevehicleishighlyrecommended. Unlessbearingsare sealed theyneed to be cleaned, repacked andadjusted on a regularbasis.During a brake job isanidealtimefor good maintenance.
• Everytwotofiveyears,depending on theuseanddrivingconditionsof a vehicle,thebrakefluidshould be flushedandreplaced.
SkillsExploration10–121