Your Car’s Brakes: Symptoms of Failure
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A car is a whole which is composed of integrated parts that works simultaneously to facilitate excellent driving. If a single minute part fails, the entire body or the vehicle as a whole will not function well. This will lead to car breakdown or worse, accidents.
Taking the brake system as an example of a car part, it is necessary to know when it is not functioning well so that immediate course of action can be done to further prevent severe wear and tear and most importantly, to instill car safety.
Different noises are symptoms of a failed brake system. As an infant cries to ask for a mother’s care, the brakes make noises to inform the driver that something is needed to be taken cared of. Common noises produced by the brakes are grinds and squeaks.
Worn out break pads are determined by a metallic grinding sound from the brake system. In the case of a Mercedes car, the Mercedes brake dust cover can also be damaged whenever metals on the brake system come into contact.
Squeaking is the noise produced when there is friction from the linings of the brakes. This can eventually damage the pads, linings, brake drums and rotors under intensive conditions.
Fading of low brake pedal is also a symptom of a failed brake system. This can either be a result of any of these instances: there is a leak in the system; air has entered in to the brake linings; or there is a need to adjust the brake.
This symptom is felt when the brakes need to be pumped to stop the car, or when the pedal sinks to the board of the floor when you are stopped while car lights are on.
When you feel like being pulled to one side, it means you either have a damaged brake line, or worn or uneven brake linings. And when you feel a brake drag, it goes to show that your brakes are not properly adjusted or they contain contaminated fluid.
Once any of these symptoms are felt, immediately inspect your brake system. Through browsing your owner’s manual and understanding every single detail written on it, you can easily inspect which part is which and how is should look like and function.
Say, the master cylinder. It is called the “heart of the brake system”. It has a reservoir for brake fluid. Located on the fire wall, it should be inspected regularly to assure fluid at the right level.
Attached to the cylinder master are the brake lines. The steel brake tubing is transcended to all the wheel of your vehicle. Rusts are the worst enemies of the brake lines. To avoid these and leaks, regularly inspect the linings. Replacement is the best course of action in case of damages.
Running from the brake lines to the brake calipers as well as to the wheel cylinders are rubber brake hoses. It is advised to avoid their exposure to dirt, road grime, salt and other elements. These can make the rubber to become brittle and can produce crack. This will then lead to a failure in the brake system.
To avoid glazing, uneven or excess wear, and saturation from brake fluid or grease, periodically inspect the pads and brake shoe linings.
The calipers and wheel cylinders should be inspected regularly to prevent leak that can lead to freakish braking.
Aside from simple inspection, lubrication must also be done to the wheel bearings. Faulty steering is the result of worn wheel bearings. And when this happens, immediately replace them.
And lastly, but certainly not the least among the parts to be taken cared of, the parking brake. Periodical adjustments are needed by this auto part.
Knowing the symptoms of a failing or failed brake system and the kind of maintenance for its parts makes you an aware and responsible car owner.
Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.