Company: About JASPER
What's New: Information from JASPER and the Car Care Council
The Signals When To Have Your Brakes Serviced
Know your vehicle's brake system and its warnings. The red "BRAKE"
lamp on the dash lights up to tell you the park brake is on and to warn
of possible failures. If the lamp is lit when driving, the park brakes
may be dragging or there may be even more serious problems such as loss
of some of the brakes on the vehicle. Never ignore a red warning lamp.
Vehicles with antilock brake systems have an amber lamp marked "ABS"
or "ANTI-LOCK" that lights up when you first turn on the ignition
key and when the ABS computer detects a malfunction. If the ABS lamp is
lit when driving, the computer has probably shut down the system. Drive
as though you do not have ABS and have the system serviced.
Audible warnings often indicate the need for parts replacement. A grinding
sound usually is a call for inspection or replacement. Many disc brakes
also have wear indicators that squeal when replacement is needed.
Last but not least, there is the overall "feel" of a good brake
system. The pedal should feel firm and the vehicle should stop straight
and smooth. Sever chatter, a pull to one side or a soft or spongy pedal
usually means the brake system is calling for immediate attention.
A qualified technician will inspect and service these parts of your brake
system.
1. Master cylinder
The master cylinder is the heart of the system, pumping brake fluid when
you step on the pedal to apply the brakes. Brake fluid can pick up moisture
and contaminates and should be replaced every 25,000 miles or at lining
replacement, whichever is sooner. A low fluid level may indicate a leak
or excessive brake lining wear. An immediate visual inspection of the
brakes at all four wheels, the linings, the hoses, and the steel brake
lines is recommended. Caution: not all fluids are compatible. Use only
the fluid type listed on the lid of the master cylinder.
2. Calipers and wheel cylinders
The disc brake calipers and the drum brake wheel cylinders convert the
pressurized brake fluid into muscle power to apply the brakes. Visually
inspect for leaks around the rubber seals, and rebuild or replace if leaks
are detected.
3. ABS sensors and controller
ABS systems monitor wheel speed, tell the computerized controller when
a wheel or wheels are about to lock-up, and modulate the brakes. When
the brakes are being modulated (an ABS event), it is often possible to
feel this as a pulsing of the brake pedal. These systems are electronically
controlled, have extremely high reliability, and are self-diagnosing.
The amber ABS lamp comes on for a bulb check at start-up and will light
if there is a malfunction that shuts down the system. Some malfunctions,
such as a loose wire or an improperly adjusted wheel bearing, may be temporarily
self-correcting. The computer stores a record of these malfunctions in
order to advise the technician of any needed service.
4. Brake pads and shoes (linings)
Periodic inspections are the only sure way to determine if new linings
are necessary, whether or not you heard the audible warnings. Your driving
style usually determines when new linings (brake job) are required. Tell
your technician or parts store if you normally load-up your vehicle and/or
pull a trailer. There is no substitute for quality linings designed to
fit both the vehicle and your driving style.
5. Parking brake
Use the parking brake every time you park the car in order to keep it
functioning. Corrosion is the enemy of the parking brake. If you have
not regularly used the parking brake, have your technician lubricate the
cables and check the adjustment.
Using your brakes properly
Think of your brake system as an extension of your body. If you push on
the brake pedal and the car does not respond as expected, you might be
in trouble. Learn your vehicle and learn to apply the right amount of
brake pedal force for each stop. Be aware of different conditions of loading
such as occasional vacation trip or towing a trailer. Brake fade can happen
during high-speed stops, descending long hills or sometimes just trying
to stop a loaded vehicle. It is better to apply more brake at the beginning
of the stop than later in the stop when fade is starting.
When driving on wet or slippery roads, remember that a skidding wheel
has less control. Do not apply more brake than you need. If you have ABS,
let the system help you. Drive normally, brake normally with the same
amount of pedal pressure (do not pump the brakes), and steer as necessary.
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