When was the last time you checked your brakes? Brakes need to be regularly inspected and cleaned in order to function properly, and it’s easy to overlook them as a potential source of danger on the road. Regular brake inspection and cleaning can help keep your car safe and make sure that you stay safe while driving on the road. Here are some tips on how to keep your car brakes in tip-top shape…
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What Happens When You Don’t Have Proper Brake Maintenance
We all know that brakes are an important part of a car, but it can be easy to forget just how important they really are. Over time, your brake rotors will wear down and need replacing. However, if you don’t properly maintain your brakes, they may end up getting warped or unevenly worn. This puts unnecessary strain on your car and can cause serious damage—especially during emergency stops.
Signs Something Is Wrong With Your Brakes
Picture this, you step on the brakes and you hear a shrieking sound, but it’s definitely not from the tires. It’s from the brakes. A grinding noise from your car’s disc brakes is often caused by brake dust and the answer is a good cleaning. Check out the following handy car brake cleaning tips to keep your brakes running smoothly.
Car Brake Step-by-step cleaning tips
To start, you will need to lift the car up, place it on jack stands, remove the wheel, and clean the brakes. After you’ve cleaned the brakes, replace the wheel, and move the car off the jack stands. Repeat the process until all four of the car’s brakes are fixed. The installation process will go especially smoothly if you can jolt up both of the vehicle’s front wheels or both of the vehicle’s rear wheels at the same time. If you happen to raise all four at the same time, your installation process will likely look something like this lift the car off the ground and take off the tires, clean the brakes, put the tires back on, and lower the car back to the ground.
The following equipment is needed: a high-quality brake cleaner, goggles to protect your eyes, and a suitable bucket for holding anything that might drop off during the cleaning process. In addition, review your local laws to determine the correct way to get rid of old brake spray and debris. Warning: brake cleaner is toxic.
Follow the instructions of the cleaning fluid exactly as they are printed on the bottle, and check to see if there are any other related guidelines. You should be okay because the chemicals in the fluid work to do most of the work. It should be sprayed on at a distance of 18-24 inches from the rotors, hubs, linings, springs, fasteners, cylinders and drums, other brake hardware, and other parts of the car or garage. Care should be taken to avoid getting any on the plastic, rubber, and painted surfaces of the car or garage. Start by spraying from the top, removing the dirt from the brakes, then do the same for the parts which are wetter. In other words, most of the gunk will shake loose by itself.
Finish with a wire brush to remove any dirt and dust from the caliper housing and backing plate. Following that, either allow the brakes to air dry or wipe them with a clean rag. If there is severe dirt, dust, and grime, you may have to repeat this process.
Conclusion
Keeping your car brakes in tip-top shape is important, especially if you drive down mountains frequently or on busy highways. Especially since it is easy to do with jake stands and a good brake cleaner.