Brake it up!

Brakes perform a very vital role in your automobile. Yes, it is like saying your life depends on your brakes. They control the stopping and the running of your vehicle. When a sudden stop is needed to avoid a crash, the brakes do the most important task. They also play the most essential part while controlling the speed of the vehicle. So they should never be taken for granted from the repairs up to the maintenance.

Having the “know how” in brake maintenance saves time, effort, and definitely, money.

There are certain things to remember when doing a brake job. For example, on the brake temperature, you must know the right fluid that will not deteriorate you brake system. For cars which are not subject to high brake temperature, silicon fluid is applicable. This fluid will not damage the paint, nor absorb water, nor allow corrosion.

However, silicon brake fluid constricts at 360 degrees Fahrenheit. In effect, this causes the pedal to feel squishy. In this case, silicon brake fluid is not advisable for racing purposes.

Keep in mind that water gives low temperature boiling and the oil eats the rubber seals. So never get or remove any water or oil in the brake fluid. Make sure to regularly check and change the brake fluid in order for the moisture to get out of the brake system. A problem is being implied by a change in the level of fluid.

Air must not enter the brake system. If in case of any, it must be immediately removed. A squashy pedal is an indicator that air has entered.

Simultaneously leak out dual master cylinder systems. Before connecting the brake lines, it is necessary to leak out the cylinder. Slightly open the bleed screw once the lines are already linked. Have this done on the front and the rear brakes on one side of your auto mobile. Then, put one end of the vacuum hose on the nipple of each bleed screw and the other end in a jar. Until the brake reservoir is almost empty, gently pump the brake pedal.

An alternative way of leaking out or bleeding is through the use of a hand or manually operated vacuum pump that is attached to the bleed screw.

To push the bubbles out of their hidden places, you can use a turkey buster to pump brake fluid into the bleed screw. And to let the bubbles out, tap on the calipers with the use of hammer. By this way, the bubbles can exit with the fluid.

All these tips and more which you can find from your owner’s manual will guide you in doing some brake job.

The next thing to do is to break in your new brake pads. This can be done by braking and allowing alternately the brakes to cool down. This is for the reason that brake pads must be heated uniformly.
Then, in the case of your Mercedes, examine the Mercedes brake boosters through pumping the pedal a few times. Do this slowly and with engine off.

To finally check whether the brakes are ok or not, press the pedal. Then start the engine. If the pedal drops as the vacuum develops in the booster, then it goes to show your brake system is doing fine.

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.