It’s suicidal to drive a car with bad brakes; it can get you killed. Brakes are used for car control. Learn how to maintain your brakes for proper functionality!

What’s the most important part of a car? The brake comes to mind before any other part. Every part of a car is important, but some of these parts can be managed. At least, the car can function to an extent. But when it comes to brakes, it’s either they are in good condition or not.

Driving a car with bad brakes is suicidal; you are on a mission to kill yourself. Brakes are used to control car movement. As you move from one point to another, you are bound to come across obstacles on the road. Bringing your car to a halt, to avoid bumping into those obstacles, is an important aspect of driving.

Imagine what will happen if you lost control, you’ll bump into everyone and everything. An accident is inevitable.

What does such an important part of a car need? Maximum maintenance. You need to be constantly abreast with the condition of your brakes. If your brakes are bad, your car is bad too.

Proper car maintenance begins with having the knowledge yourself. You may have a mechanic at your beck and call, but there are certain things you need to know yourself in order to be on top of the situation. ISN Autocare is happy to educate you about brake maintenance in this article.

Brake maintenance observations

1. Activities while driving

The brake is in use while driving your car. If you notice a vibration in the pedal, it’s a sign of a malfunction. Also, if the pedal feels lose when applied, it might be out of lubrication.

Do you hear a screeching sound like metals is rubbing against each other? Get your oil and lubricate the brake.

Lubricate the brake and take good care of it with proper products

2. Check the engine compartment

When your car is parked, you should open up the engine compartment for inspection. Check the quantity of oil available in the box. Oil viscosity isn’t difficult to control, ensure that you carry out a control once every month.

Low oil should be topped to the recommended level. Also, ensure that you use the right oil for your car as advised by your manufacturer. Consult your owner’s manual for clarification.

3. Inspect the winch system below the car

Inspecting the winch system requires you to lift your car up, so you have access. You’ll find a metallic pipe along with your car, check it thoroughly. There’s also a rubber pipe that takes oil down to the oil pigs, has it checked too. Ensure that these parts are kept away from the parts of the car that are in motion.

4. Discharge brake system wind

Following a replacement of the brake elements such as discs, oil, and pads, there’s the need to perform a brake discharge to get rid of accumulated air. Having air in the system thwarts its efficiency.

Practical brake maintenance routine

1. Tools for preparation

There are certain preparation tools needed for effective brake maintenance. They include: lift car tool, repair kits and cleaning stuff.

2. Vital steps

For starters, implementing brake maintenance entails that you fix the vehicle’s front wheels, ease the wheel nuts and release the brakes. Lift the car with the rear axle before doing this.

Take out the brake drums, and begin to clean them.

Use a cleaning solution to thoroughly clean dirt in the brake system. Take your time to clean every single item including the brake pads, piston and springs.

When you are certain that the drum brakes are without mud or dirt, evaluate the details including brake pads and springs due for replacement as well as the hand brake controls.

Make sure your drum brakes are clean before proceeding to next steps

Having carefully examined the details, pay attention to the brake pedal. If all is well and functional with the brake pedal, consider reattaching the brake pedal.

Perhaps the pedal is shallow, make some adjustments to the brake pad to ensure that it’s not too far from the brake drum surface. Once that’s settled, fix back the wheel and brake drum to round up the brake maintenance process.