In order to determine whether your brakes need a check-up, some maintenance or a replacement, you must be able to recognize signs of wear or damage.
Obviously, your mileage is a pretty good indicator, although it all depends on your driving style. In general, brake fluid should be changed every 60,000 kilometres. Brake discs usually last twice as long as the pads that chew on them. Ask a technician at your local dealership for a precise measurement of the wear on your brakes.
A vibrating brake pedal often means that one of the components is warped -- probably a disc or a drum. You need to replace it immediately.
A spongy pedal (with reduced tension, and longer travel required to achieve the same results) can signal various problems including worn-out pads, bad brake adjustment or deteriorated brake fluid. By mixing with oxygen, this liquid oxidizes and compresses, so you must flush it and add fresh fluid.
Worn-out brake pads can produce grinding noises. Before you get to that point, however, a warning will appear on your dashboard -- if your vehicle is equipped with brake-wear sensors -- in which case you have to get new pads with integrated sensors.
You'll easily spot a brake pad with diagonal wear lines or a smeared disc during a visual check after the wheel has been removed. Replacing the damaged part becomes necessary.
Tips for longer-lasting brakes
Inspect the various components of your braking system at every oil change -- don't wait for signs of brake power loss! It's also a good time for a clean-up which includes:
Lubricating key components is another way to optimize braking performance. Two specific areas need lubrication:
As for drum brakes, adjusting the shoes usually makes them much more effective.
What you need to know
Front brakes require more frequent maintenance since they work to slow down about 70% of a vehicle's mass. Prices vary significantly depending on the quality and sophistication of the brake components (materials and design). Naturally, performance-oriented parts will prove more expensive to maintain and replace.
Obviously, your mileage is a pretty good indicator, although it all depends on your driving style. In general, brake fluid should be changed every 60,000 kilometres. Brake discs usually last twice as long as the pads that chew on them. Ask a technician at your local dealership for a precise measurement of the wear on your brakes.
A vibrating brake pedal often means that one of the components is warped -- probably a disc or a drum. You need to replace it immediately.
A spongy pedal (with reduced tension, and longer travel required to achieve the same results) can signal various problems including worn-out pads, bad brake adjustment or deteriorated brake fluid. By mixing with oxygen, this liquid oxidizes and compresses, so you must flush it and add fresh fluid.
Worn-out brake pads can produce grinding noises. Before you get to that point, however, a warning will appear on your dashboard -- if your vehicle is equipped with brake-wear sensors -- in which case you have to get new pads with integrated sensors.
You'll easily spot a brake pad with diagonal wear lines or a smeared disc during a visual check after the wheel has been removed. Replacing the damaged part becomes necessary.
 |
Tips for longer-lasting brakes
Inspect the various components of your braking system at every oil change -- don't wait for signs of brake power loss! It's also a good time for a clean-up which includes:
- Removing dust;
- Removing rust off the disc's outer edge;
- Sanding your brake pads to make them more even and abrasive;
- Polishing the braking surface on the disc.
Lubricating key components is another way to optimize braking performance. Two specific areas need lubrication:
- The metallic parts surrounding the pads, as well as the mounting points on the calipers;
- The caliper mounts.
As for drum brakes, adjusting the shoes usually makes them much more effective.
What you need to know
Front brakes require more frequent maintenance since they work to slow down about 70% of a vehicle's mass. Prices vary significantly depending on the quality and sophistication of the brake components (materials and design). Naturally, performance-oriented parts will prove more expensive to maintain and replace.