Has your brake warning light suddenly lit up on your dashboard? That glowing red or amber symbol can be alarming, especially when you’re not sure what it means. While it doesn’t always mean an emergency, you shouldn’t ignore it either. Let’s look at the most common triggers of this light, what it might cost to … Read more
Bleeding your brakes is one of those car maintenance tasks that seems simple enough at first glance, but also easy to get wrong if you’re not careful. One small mistake can lead to big problems down the road. Whether you’re replacing brake components or just performing routine maintenance, here are the most common brake bleeding … Read more
The sight of smoke coming from your wheel area along with a burning smell is something that will cause most drivers to get nervous about. But how serious is it really? Smoking brakes can mean anything from a minor issue that often resolves itself to a major safety concern that needs immediate attention. Let’s look … Read more
A parking brake has ONE job. If it can’t do that job, it’s rather useless. Yet parking brake problems are surprisingly common, affecting both manual and electronic systems. No matter the type of problem, a faulty parking brake can be more than just an annoyance, it’s a safety issue. Let’s look at some of the … Read more
If you’ve ever seen the recent movie Gran Turismo, you may recall a scene where Jann plows through a corner and crashes because his brakes were glazed. Upon closer inspection, the mechanic confirmed the young driver was correct, which explained the reason he overcooked the corner. Simply put, glazed brake pads are brake pads that … Read more
Your vehicle’s braking system consists of some of the most important components in the entire vehicle. While getting up to speed is important in your car, truck, or SUV, slowing down and stopping is even more crucial. Brake pads and rotors are considered consumable products and they will require regular replacement (pads more frequently than … Read more
The brake system in your vehicle allows the driver to slow down or stop in a consistent and reliable manner. The brakes on your car work by converting the kinetic energy of movement into thermal energy (heat). Each time you step on the brake pedal, the speed of the spinning wheels underneath your vehicle is … Read more
Brake calipers are important components of the braking system. A seized brake caliper (also called a sticking brake caliper) is what happens when the brakes clamp down, but don’t release when you take your foot off the brake pedal. Common Sticking Brake Caliper Symptoms Below are seven of the most common symptoms of brake caliper … Read more
Modern vehicles have what is known as an anti-lock braking system. The purpose of this system is to keep the driver safe by preventing the wheels from locking up as you apply the brakes. That way, you can keep control over the steering and your vehicle won’t skid as a result of the wheels locking … Read more
When you push down on the brake pedal a little, you’re telling your car to slow down a bit. When you apply maximum force to the brake pedal, you’re saying you want to slow down as fast as possible. But even when stomping on the brake pedal, it shouldn’t go all the way down to … Read more