A Guide to Brake Preventive Maintenance.

Ensuring the safe operation of any vehicle, both on and off-road, requires brake security and preventive maintenance. Proper maintenance and inspection of your brakes can prevent accidents and save you time and money in the long run. In this article, we’ll cover some essential points to help you keep your brakes running smoothly.

Preventive maintenance and regular inspection are crucial for safety and addressing potential problems early on. Look out for signs of wear or damage, such as uneven pad wear, warping, marks, or corrosion of the brake rotors, and leaks, swell, and damage in the brake lines.  Check the fluid level and condition and ensure that the brake pads have enough lining compound and thickness to function correctly without damaging the rotors.

Your brakes are a system, and if one component fails, the entire system may fail. While some parts are more critical than others, it’s best to avoid unnecessary risks. Remember that brake components have a lifespan that varies depending on your driving habits, road conditions, and weather, among other factors.

It’s also important to know that other parts affect your vehicle’s braking performance and require appropriate maintenance. For instance:

• Tires are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road. Even if your brakes are in good condition, without a good set of tires with enough grip, you won’t be able to translate the braking force into the road. Use tires that are compatible with your vehicle and its intended use to achieve optimal brake performance.
• Proper wheel alignment is vital for safe braking. Misalignment can cause your car to pull as you drive and brake, especially at high speeds, when you need maximum braking performance.
• Suspension is another system that affects brake performance. Defective shocks or struts can affect your vehicle’s weight distribution, causing front-end nosedives when you brake. Worn suspensions can also cause the wheels to bounce, reducing the tires’ contact with the road and resulting in longer stopping distances. They can also overwork your brakes, leading to premature wear.
• Other components, such as control arms, bushings, and tie rods, can cause misalignment or make your car pull to one side as you brake.
• Damaged or worn wheel bearings can cause vibrations that prevent the vehicle from braking smoothly. They can also make the wheel wobble, which is unsafe and can reduce the brake caliper’s ability to grip the rotor, resulting in reduced braking performance. Bad wheel bearings can cause additional and premature wear of the brake pads, leading to increased brake maintenance costs and unnecessary repairs.

By considering all these factors, you can ensure the optimal performance of your vehicle’s braking system and promote safe driving.

10 Point Check List To Keep Your Brakes As Good As New

                                                                                                1.        Brake Pads

Don’t wait until it’s too late to change your brake pads. Most brake pads have wear indicators called wear tabs; as they are exposed and get in contact with the rotor, they cause a high-pitched metal-on-metal noise as a warning that the brake pads are extremely worn and must be replaced. Don’t wait until the wear tabs are exposed or to see a brake pad indicator light on your cluster; it might be too late, and besides being dangerous, the metal-on-metal friction can damage your brake rotors.

Check your brake pads visually at least every six months and every time you change the oil. If you feel something is wrong with your brakes, check them as often as needed, it won’t do any harm. You can check your brake pads yourself, as shown here, or let your trusted mechanic do it for you.

When it’s time to replace your brake pads, it’s always best to spend a few extra bucks and purchase the best product you can buy; safety can’t be bought with money. You can find more about brake pads and lining compounds here.

                                                             2.        Brake Rotors And Other Components

As you check your brake pads, you will also have a good view of your rotors, and you will be able to spot visible signs of tear and wear like warping, and you will also be able to check their thickness. Brake rotors should last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles; however, their lifespan can be reduced if they are not properly cared for. For example, they can get damaged by neglected and extremely thin brake pads or exposure to sudden temperature changes. You should inspect your brake rotors at least every time you replace your brake pads, but the ideal would be to take a good look at them every time you change your oil

You will find a thorough guide about how to check your brake rotors in this link, or you can ask your trusted mechanic to check them.

Calipers are also vital parts of the braking system; they push the brake pads against the rotors every time you press the brake pedal. They can cause dangerous braking problems if they fail. They aren’t as easy to check as brake pads, rotors, or brake fluid, but it’s important to do so to prevent accidents and unnecessary damage to other braking components.

Calipers are designed to endure extreme conditions, but, like every mechanical component, they can fail. Calipers have pistons that are protected by rubber boots. These rubber boots protect the delicate moving parts from dust, road debris, water, and other particles that can lead to corrosion or make them stick. A good habit is to check them at least once a year or more frequently if you take your vehicle to muddy and difficult off-road trails.

Here you will find an interesting guide about how to check your calipers.

                                                                                                 3.        Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is responsible for transmitting the force from the brake pedal to the calipers. However, it doesn’t last forever. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing brake fluid every two years or when you notice a decline in your vehicle’s braking performance, even if the braking system appears to be in perfect working condition. Brake fluid can become contaminated due to cracked brake lines, master cylinder problems, and the passage of time.

Another very important thing is to use at least the fluid type recommended by the manufacturer. However, you should upgrade your brake fluid if you installed a big brake kit or if you use your vehicle for towing or extreme recreative driving, where your brakes will be subjected to more stress and will generate more heat. One of the most important qualities of brake fluid is its boiling point. High-performance brake fluid has a higher boiling point, ensuring that your vehicle will safely stop even in the most extreme conditions.

                                                                                                4.        Brake Lines

Brake lines are often neglected until something is wrong. Good brake preventive maintenance wouldn’t be complete without taking care of brake lines as well. They take pressurized brake fluid to the calipers, so they can apply force to the rotors and stop the vehicle; that’s why it’s important to keep an eye on them.

Stock brake lines are usually made of rubber or metal combined with rubber; that’s why they are prone to crack, degrade, and wear out over time. Constantly exposed to temperature changes, weather, dust, mud, and of course, the high pressure caused by braking. They can also tend to swell over time, which can reduce the brake fluid pressure causing your brakes to lose efficiency. They usually don’t completely break and start leaking, giving you enough time to notice the problem and replace them. But you shouldn’t take unnecessary risks; that’s why it’s important to check them regularly to prevent accidents.

Besides, if you usually take your vehicle off-road and subject it to extreme conditions, consider upgrading your brake lines. There are many improved aftermarket brake lines designed to endure the most challenging conditions and incredible levels of brake fluid pressure. Upgrading your brake lines is a great preventive measure to reinforce your brakes and reduce your vehicle’s stopping distance.

                                                                    5.        Keep Your Brake System Clean

Dirt and debris can accumulate in your brake system if left unattended, causing the brakes to lose efficiency. Make sure to keep the brake system’s components clean and free of debris to ensure optimal braking performance and extend its lifespan.

Keep your brakes; remove dirt, dust, and other contaminants that can accumulate over time. You can use a good-quality brake cleaner to remove dirt and debris from your braking system’s most sensitive parts. Keep your brake pads, rotors, and calipers away from oil or other harmful substances. Use a dry cloth to clean your brake components, avoiding contact with other automotive fluids or lubricants.

Keep your wheels clean; they tend to accumulate contaminants and brake pad dust which can contaminate your brakes or get caught between your brake pads and rotors, causing premature tear and wear.

Keeping your brakes clean is essential to ensure optimal brake performance and reduce the risk of accidents.

                                                                                                6.        Keep It Cool

Brakes reach incredibly high temperatures as you brake, especially when using your vehicle in heavy traffic or on steep terrain, not to mention track days, which deserve an article on their own. High temperatures can cause the brake fluid to boil, as discussed above. That’s why it’s important to use proper brake fluid and avoid using the brakes excessively while they are hot. However, if you can’t avoid using your vehicle under rough conditions: for example, you are an avid off-road driver or you need to haul heavy loads, you can make further modifications to upgrade your brakes and keep the temperature down.

You can achieve this in many ways, but one of the most efficient ways is installing a big brake kit. These kits usually include bigger brake rotors that allow you to install bigger brake pads and are designed to dissipate heat more efficiently because they have a bigger surface. Besides, aftermarket brakes are designed to dissipate heat better, so they are an attractive alternative if you enjoy driving with a heavy foot.

                                                      7.        Drive Safe And Adopt Good Driving Habits

• Many people use to tailgate or drive unnecessarily fast, for example, when approaching a stop sign or a red line. This way of driving puts unnecessary stress on the brakes and wears them out faster. Reducing your speed with anticipation and letting your gearbox slow down as much as possible before you apply the brakes is an excellent way to extend their lifespan.
• Remember not to rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
• Weight is one of the factors that put strain on your brakes. Remove any unnecessary weight from your vehicle to make your brakes’ job easier.

                                                                                8.        Off-Road Extreme Care

Bear in mind that off-road vehicles are subjected to harder driving conditions and roads than street vehicles. That’s why they need more maintenance, and brakes are no exception.
If you use your vehicle off-road a lot, check your braking system more often and keep it clean. Besides, do quick checks before and after you take your vehicle for an off-road ride.

                                                                   9.        Be Aware Of Damage Symptoms

It’s important to pay attention to any signs of wear or damage. As you drive, you may hear strange noises or feel that your brakes don’t behave as usual. Learning to be aware of these signs and taking action as soon as you notice them will help you ensure your safety on the road and prevent more costly damage.

                                                                               10.        Get Professional Help

Brakes are a sensitive part of your vehicle.  Knowing how to service your car yourself is great, but don’t hesitate to seek professional help and advice if you have doubts or find problems that exceed your technical knowledge.

Final Words

If you follow these steps, you will have the peace of mind that you will be driving a safe and as sound as new vehicle.  You just have to enjoy your driving and schedule frequent checkups to keep it that way.

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How to Identify Common Brake Problems

Brakes are the most crucial safety features in your vehicle. It’s important to know when something is wrong with them to address it as soon as possible and to ensure yours and others’ safety. In this article, you will find a guide to help you identify the most common brake problems so that you can take preventive actions in time.

Noises Coming From Your Brakes

Noises are always a sign that something is wrong with your brakes. Not all noises are a sign of an imminent catastrophic brake failure, but you should be aware of any strange noise coming from your brakes. The type of noise and its pitch will help you to determine what the problem may be.

Squealing or Squeaking Noises

Noises related to brake pads and rotors are usually made as you hit the brake pedal and the braking system is engaged. On the other hand, noises related to other brake system components are noticeable as the vehicle moves, and the brake pedal is depressed.

• Squealing is often caused by worn brake pads.
  Break pads have wear indicators, also known as “wear tabs”.

These tabs are exposed when the lining compound reaches a certain degree of wear and starts making contact with the rotor, causing a high-pitched metal-on-metal noise as a warning that the brake pads are extremely worn and must be replaced.Once the wear tabs have been exposed, you should replace them immediately to prevent them from damaging the brake rotors and avoid the risk of driving your car with excessively worn brake pads.

• These noises can alert you about more severe problems, like the metal-to-metal sound between your brake pads’ back plate and your discs. Many alarms are triggered before this happens, but it may happen, and if so, you should replace your brake pads and check your rotors immediately.
  • Warped or bent brake rotors cause your brake pads to sit unevenly while you brake. Although this noise is more annoying than dangerous, you shouldn’t wait to fix the cause of the noise by replacing or machining the brake rotors to make their surface even.
  • Faulty calipers may stick, failing to release the brake pads properly, causing them to remain in contact with the rotors after the brake pedal is released.  This creates a high-pitched noise.

• Foreign objects, such as road debris, pebbles, and hardened mud, can stick between your brake pads and rotors, making a constant or intermittent high pitch.
• Last but not least, in the unlikely case that a caliper bracket breaks, you will hear a hard clunking noise. This is severe damage and requires stopping the vehicle asap.

It’s important to have your brakes checked if you hear any of these noises, and it’s also important to remember that worn brake pads and rotors can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of accidents.

Spongy Brake Pedal

If you feel your brake pedal spongy or softer than usual, or the pedal goes all the way down without applying any resistance, your brake system may have some of these problems:

Defective Master Cylinder

To keep it simple, the master cylinder is the component that feeds calipers with pressurized brake fluid every time the brake pedal is pressed. A faulty brake master cylinder will fail to distribute pressure properly, affecting the brake pedal’s feel.
Master cylinders have seals that keep brake fluid in its place; when they fail, the brake cylinder starts losing efficiency until it can completely fail.

Another symptom of a defective master cylinder is brake fluid contamination. As the rubber seals wear out, air, moisture, and contaminants may enter the braking system preventing it from working properly. Besides, a cylinder with damaged seals won’t hold or build enough brake fluid pressure to make the system run effectively.

Damaged Brake Lines

• Leaking brake lines cause pressure loss in the braking system, resulting in a spongy pedal. Leaks can be in the lines themselves or in the connections between them and the master cylinder, calipers, or any point in between.
• Over time, brake hoses can weaken and swell, allowing the pressure generated by the master cylinder to expand them. This will reduce the hydraulic fluid pressure that arrives at the brakes and will cause the brake pedal to feel spongy.
• Broken brake lines allow air into the braking system and produce pressure loss.

Low Brake Fluid Level

When the brake fluid level is low, there isn’t enough fluid inside the braking system to build enough pressure. If you feel your brake fluid spongy, check your brake fluid level. You can find how to do it in your vehicle’s user manual.

Old Brake Fluid

Brake fluid doesn’t last forever and loses its properties and absorbs moisture as it fades. Moisture can cause corrosion in the brake system and reduce the fluid’s ability to transfer force from the pedal to the brakes. Moisture can cause corrosion and eventually lead to leaks and failures. Also, deteriorated brake fluid can reduce the vehicle’s braking performance and cause a spongy feeling when you press the brake pedal.
Brake fluid should be replaced every two or three years, depending on the type of brake fluid and the vehicle’s driving conditions.

Brake System Poorly Bled

Brake systems are bled to remove air from the brake lines and ensure that all the air is removed from the brake system. Improper bleeding of the brakes causes the pedal to feel spongy because air is more compressible than brake fluid.

Brake Light On In Your Dashboard

A brake light indicator on the dashboard warns you about a problem with the brake system, low brake fluid levels, worn brake pads, or other issues. It’s important to have your vehicle’s brake system inspected as soon as possible when you get this warning.

Vibrations As You Brake

If you feel vibrations coming from your steering wheel, your brake pedal wobbles or the whole vehicle shakes as you brake, it’s most likely that you have a problem with your brakes.

One of the most common reasons for this behavior is warped, bent, or uneven brake rotors. As you hit the brakes, brake pads are pushed against the rotors; if the rotors’ surface is not perfectly even, they will generate pulses that will translate through the brake fluid to the brake pedal and, depending on factors like speed, how bad the rotors are, etc., it can translate to other components of the vehicle as well.

Another reason for vibrations can be a damaged caliper, which can cause a similar feeling in the steering wheel as you apply the brakes.

It’s interesting to note that shakiness in the front end and steering wheel comes from the front brakes, which are installed in the front wheels, and when it seems that the whole car shakes as you brake, it’s probable that the problem comes from the rear brakes, attached to the rear wheels, which are, of course, far from the front end.

Brake Fluid Leaks

If you keep topping your brake fluid to find your fluid level low after a few days or if you just spot fluid stains (brake fluid is usually red, yellow, or brownish) under your car, mostly near the wheels or under the brake lines, you should have your brakes checked as soon as possible. Some leaks are not visible, as brake fluid can leak inside the master cylinder or in areas where it doesn’t reach the ground. That’s why it’s so important to check your fluid level often. Another indicator of brake fluid leaks is a spongy pedal, as mentioned above.

Vehicle Pulling To One Side As You Brake

This problem can be caused by many reasons, for example, uneven front tires, wheel misalignment, and many other things, including problems in your vehicle’s brake system.

A vehicle’s braking system has many components that can fail and cause this. Different problems cause the same effect: uneven braking. If a wheel doesn’t brake at the same rate as the others, the vehicle will pull towards the side where the wheels receive the least braking pressure.

• A stuck or frozen brake caliper can cause the brake pads to apply uneven pressure to the rotor, which can cause the vehicle to pull to one side when stopping. If a piston in the caliper gets stuck, the dust boot that protects it is broken, or the caliper slide pins lose lubrication, they will affect the caliper’s capacity to close properly.
• Low brake level fluid can also prevent the brakes from applying even pressure and cause the vehicle to pull to one side when stopping.
• Uneven, worn brake pads or shoes also can cause the brakes to apply irregular pressure, causing this effect while braking.
• Bent brake caliper pistons can also cause this effect as they limit the pressure the caliper applies to the brake pads.
• A faulty master cylinder can cause the vehicle to pull to one side when braking. It’s not that usual because modern vehicles’ brake systems work diagonally. However, it is still something to check if you can’t find another reason why your vehicle behaves like this.
• A defective ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) can also cause this effect. Sometimes, ABS malfunctioning can cause the brake pressure to be applied unevenly to the wheels.

Parking Brake Issues

If you experience parking brake issues. For example, it’s not as effective as it used to, you have to pull the handle further than you usually would to keep your vehicle locked, or if your vehicle has electronic parking break and it’s too noisy when you push the e-brake button, your vehicle may have one of these issues:

• Your vehicle’s rear brakes are worn.
• If your vehicle has drum brakes, they may have a defective piston.
• The parking brake cable may be stretched.
• If you hear squeaky noises as you apply your electronic parking brake, the boots that make the caliper close may be damaged, or the motor that commands the caliper needs an inspection.

Burning Smell

Have you ever felt a burned clutch smell? Maybe you know the smell of overheated brakes as well. The odor is particularly sharp and unmistakable and is something that nobody would like to smell in a street vehicle. Brakes give off a burning smell when they suffer a lot of stress, making the rotors red hot and burning the brake pads’ compound. Under normal circumstances, this shouldn’t happen, but of course, it’s always better to fry the brakes than to have an accident. Modern compounds have a high tolerance to heat and should endure emergency braking; however, street-use braking fluid is not that resilient, and even though its boiling point is pretty high, it’s probable that it boils after a really hard and prolonged braking.

After an emergency braking, the brake pedal will feel spongy, and the vehicle’s braking capacity will be reduced for at least a while. That’s why after braking hard, particularly if you smell that particular odor, it’s important that you carefully reduce your speed until you find a safe place to stop. Check your parking brake to ensure it’s completely released, and if so, give your brakes a rest and allow them to cool off. Make a visual inspection of your brakes and rotors, and don’t touch anything while it may still be hot. Check your brake fluid reservoir; if everything seems okay, continue your journey slowly and avoid braking hard until you can have your brakes and brake fluid checked. It’s important to stay calm and put safety first.

Another unusual but very dangerous situation which is another reminder that brakes must be regularly checked are locked calipers. In this case, you must also stop immediately, but it’s impossible to continue driving the vehicle with a locked wheel.

Final Words

It’s important to be aware of these symptoms to help you realize when something is wrong with your brakes. It’s important to check your brakes if you notice any of these symptoms and address any issues. Remember, worn brake pads and rotors can reduce braking performance and increase the risk of accidents.

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Brake Pad Materials Explained

Every time you brake, the brake pads are pushed by the brake cylinder against the rotors. The rotors kinetic energy is transformed into heat, stopping the vehicle. The brake pads pressed against the rotor is called friction material or lining compound, popularly known as compound.

You probably heard about ceramic, semi-metallic, and organic brake pads, but what’s the difference between these brake pad materials?

Lining Compounds

• Ceramic: these brake pads are made of a mixture of porcelain and clay with a small number of metallic filaments, flakes, and other materials used to keep the clay-porcelain surface stronger and improve heat dissipation.

The first ceramic pads didn’t brake well when cold and weren’t advised for daily
driving, but this changed when manufacturers started adding metallic filaments and
other materials to the blend. Nowadays, brake pads are not exclusively made for
exotic vehicles; they are safe to use in all weather and driving conditions. Many
vehicles like the newer Jeep Wrangler come with ceramic brake pads as a factory
equipment.

Even though these brake pads are usually more expensive than semi-metallic pads
and definitely much more expensive than organic brake pads; they are worth every
cent and makes them the best lining compound available in the market for daily,
track, and off-road use. They last much longer than brake pads made of other
materials, go easy on the rotors, are almost dust-free, and are extremely quiet
through all their lifespan. Besides, ceramic brake pads provide a stiff pedal feel at all
times thanks to the material’s incompressibility.

Their ability to handle and quickly dissipate high temperatures allows them to recover
quickly which is excellent for helping the rotors, the brake fluid, and the rest of the
braking system components cool and healthy. Also, heat reduction helps to reduce
braking distances and preventing fading.

It’s good to notice that dust-free is not only good for aesthetic purposes (keeping the
rims clean), it also helps to keep the caliper’s piston/s and the rotors’ surface clean,
which is another reason why ceramic brake pads are not only long-lasting but they
help to extend the service life of many parts of vehicles’ braking system.

If you enjoy extreme driving and you choose to upgrade your standard brake pads for
ceramics, you can buy a special set of brake disks to take the most profit from your
new pads.

• – Semi-metallic: this compound is very common these days. As ceramic brake pads, they were first conceived for use in racing cars before the boom of ceramic brake pads in the racing world. Their properties and price are in between the classic or organic brake pads and their more advanced ceramic counterparts.

They are made of different compounds, and while the formula varies depending on the manufacturer, they usually are made from a combination of iron, steel graphite, copper, a low proportion of organic materials, etc. The metallic part is mostly a combination of flaked metals which are used as friction elements.

Semi-metallic brake pads are tougher, more fade-resistant, and longer lasting than standard brake pads, but they don’t last as much as ceramic pads. Besides, because of the materials used for their construction, semi-metallic brake pads are much more aggressive to the rotors than ceramic and organic brake pads, reducing their service life and increasing the vehicles’ maintenance cost.

            These compound come as OEM equipment in many mid-range, heavy-duty, and
vehicles where organic brake pads won’t be suitable, but not as fast or expensive
enough to come with ceramic brake pads as standard equipment.

            Semi-metallic brake pads give a constant and firm pedal feel and can handle
extreme temperatures very well. The problem is that they get noisy over time, and
are not as easy on the brake rotors as ceramic or organic brake pads. They can cost
up to twice the price of organic brake pads and some brands and models are close
or matches the price of a good set of ceramic brake pads. Besides, they need more
force to be applied to the brake pedal to produce good braking torque.

            They don’t produce as much dust as organic brake pads and in that department they
are close to ceramic brakes performance, they work well under a broad range of
temperatures and conditions, handle heat well, but they are noisier than ceramic
brake pads, and as they wear, they transfer vibrations to the braking system,
something that doesn’t happen with ceramic brake pads.

• Organic: also called non-metallic by some manufacturers and retailers, these are the cheapest brake pads available in the market. They used to be made of a mixture of asbestos with other materials. It’s been a while since asbestos use has been banned because it’s carcinogenic, and it’s been replaced by other materials such as carbon, rubber, kevlar, and other organic materials. They are soft, making them gentle to the brake rotors and pretty quiet. However, that softness is what makes them weaker than ceramic and semi-metallic compounds.

They don’t handle heat well, and the surface that is in contact with the rotor can crystalize, producing glazing, and reducing the brakes’ performance, which immediately translates into noisier brake pads and longer braking distances.

When used in small and light cars, they behave relatively well, but they are not advised for trucks or AWD vehicles, which are heavy and often exposed to extreme heat and hard driving conditions.

Even though they are cheap, organic brake pads need to be replaced sooner than any other, so if you add the labor cost of replacing them or the damage that crystallized brake pads can produce to brake rotors, they may end up not being as cheap as they appear.

Organic brake pads leave a remarkable quantity of debris as they wear out, which is also another point to keep in mind when comparing the difference between brake pad materials.

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