Your car is probably essential to you, allowing you to get to and from your workplace, perhaps take children to various activities, and it can even be used to allow you to escape for a while and go somewhere by yourself.
In short, when something goes wrong with it you quickly realize how important it is! Fortunately, by undertaking regular maintenance, you can reduce the amount of time your car spends off the road. Of course, the best way to look after your car is to book a regular service with your local mechanic. They have the skills and experience to quickly deal with any issue. If you don’t know a local mechanic then try out these car mechanics Liechardt.
If you want to look after your brakes, the most important safety feature in your car, then this is what you need to know.
The Calipers
The caliper is the housing for the brake pads. It sits over the front edge of the disc, allowing one brake pad to sit on either side of the disc. The caliper will have a pipe attached to it, this is usually on the top but could be anywhere. The pipe is filled with fluid. If you were to trace the pipe you would reach the brake reservoir under the bonnet. It does pass through several units on the way that are designed to provide pressure in the pipe.
When you operate the brake pedal it compresses this fluid, pushing it against the pads and pushing them against the disc, effectively stopping the car.
The caliper housing doesn’t usually have any issues. It is usually bolted at the top and bottom to the car and the bolts also act as swivel points.
To maintain your brakes you’ll want to remove these bolts and slide the caliper forward. Make sure you don’t place any strain on the pipe as this could cause a brake fluid leak.
You can clean the caliper to ensure there is no corrosion or other debris affecting its operation.
Pads
With the caliper off you can inspect the pads. If there is 3mm of pad left or less, you will need to replace them. You can order replacements at almost any car store. You should always replace all the pads on the same axle at the same time.
To replace the pads you will need to wind the piston back in. The piston is on the inside of the caliper. You’ll have to check your handbook to discover if it can be pushed back in with a suitable lever or needs to be screwed with a specialized tool.
When winding the piston in make sure you remove the lid of your brake fluid cap under the bonnet. It shouldn’t overflow but it is a possibility.
Take A Look At the Discs
Don’t forget to look at the discs. If these have deep grooves or scratches they will also need replacing. You’ll need to order them but replacement is generally as easy as removing a small screw and sliding them off the wheel.
You can now reverse it and put everything back together.
