If you are like many people, you have purchased some used brake pads and are wondering if you can repair brake calipers. A worn-out brake pad can make your brakes work harder, costing you more gas. Brake pads wear differently depending on which brand of brake you use. When you take your car in for brake repair, the mechanic is likely to inspect the brake pads to determine if they need to be replaced. If he does recommend replacing the pads, he will likely suggest replacement to match the previous year’s model.
If you’ve already purchased new brakes and don’t plan to purchase a new set anytime soon, you can still repair brake pads. You should know that brake pads wear differentially. This means that they wear faster near the center of the pad and slower toward the end of the pad. Older, worn out brake pads will wear quickly in the center of the pad, but very slowly farther away from the end. To accurately determine the amount of time you will have to repair your brakes, you should consult the owner’s manual for your car or go to a local shop that offers brake repair.
When you start to replace your pads, make sure you are wearing them properly. If you put too much pressure on the brake pedals when you’re installing the pads, you may damage the pads. Make sure you fit the pedals in the correct spot and that your brake pedal lever doesn’t touch the brake pads when you are pulling the brake cord. If you do either of those things, you will cause unnecessary wear and tear on your pads.
After you repair your brakes, you will probably find that you need to replace the rotors as well. Changing the rotors will also extend the life of your brakes and improve their performance. Although you may not need to change the rotors on every vehicle, many cars come standard with rotors that need replacing at some point. Therefore, before you buy replacement rotors, you will need to learn how to repair brake calipers.
To change your brake pads, you will need to remove the caliper. You can loosen the bolts and then pull the pads off with your hands. Some cars have drums that need to be unbolted as well. Remove them carefully and set them aside.
Next, you will need to locate the mounting brackets. You will probably need to use a screwdriver to loosen the bolts holding down the pads. Locate the mounting bolts under the calipers, and loosen them up. Once you have them loosened, you can pull the pads out. Be careful when pulling them out as you could damage the pads.
If you need to replace the caliper piston, you can do this by removing the old pad and sliding the new piston into place. You will need to make sure it is installed securely, and then bolt it in place. Place a washer on each side of the hole so that they can be tightened easily. Most people mark the hole so you can know where to drill the new hole. You may also want to install a washer to keep the caliper from coming undo when it is time to tighten the bolts.
You can repair brake pads by yourself or take it to your local shop. It is better to repair brake pads on your own so that you know how they work. It can be quite tricky at first, but you will soon become familiar with it. When choosing a shop to take your car to for repair, you will want to find one that has a good reputation. They should be able to give you a guarantee and work with you to determine the best solution for your vehicle.