Automobiles that are manufactured with disk brakes use a rotor and caliper system that stops the car with friction. This hydraulically-actuated friction can cause a large amount of heat to build up on the rotors and pads, which can lead to f...

The parking brake, also known as an emergency brake, is a mechanical braking device used to stop a vehicle when the regular driving brake malfunctions due to a mechanical failure. The parking brake also keeps a parked vehicle from moving. Wh...

One of the biggest issues facing any mechanic when installing a new master cylinder is the problem of air getting in the system. Whenever you perform any kind of repair work that involves disconnecting hydraulic lines, air inevitably gets in...

The Honda Element is manufactured with rear disk brakes, which include a hydraulic caliper, pads and a rotor. The caliper squeezes the pads against the surface of the spinning rotor, stopping the SUV with friction. This friction surface may...

The Acura CL sedan uses a hydraulic caliper braking system to apply friction to a set of rotors, stopping the car. When these rotors become worn or damaged, they will require resurfacing or replacement. The rotor is a one-piece unit that wil...

The Chevrolet Avalanche is a full sized truck/SUV that uses braking rotors and hydraulic calipers to stop the vehicle. These rotors can wear out or become damaged, requiring replacement. The average weekend mechanic can spend up to an hour r...

Introduced in 2006, the Jeep Commander SUV features both front and rear disc brakes. The front pads compensate for 70 percent braking capacity for the vehicle and will require more frequent servicing. When replacing brake pads on the Command...

The GMC Savana is a full sized van manufactured with disk brakes, which use a rotor friction surface to stop the vehicle. This rotor can become warped or damaged and will require eventual replacement, but it can be resurfaced until the rotor...

Installing a new Mopar lightweight master cylinder provides your car with two advantages: the added stopping power of a high performance Mopar part and the increased speed gained by decreasing the overall weight of your car. Installing a new...

You must retract the caliper pistons on your Toyota Sienna when you're replacing pads or rotors. Because Siennas can feature front and rear disc brakes, this applies to both axles. Retracting the pistons that contact the backing plate of the...

The braking system on an Infiniti i30 is made up of many different components, but the two systems that do the physical act of stopping the car are the rotors and brake pads. With every pad change, the rotors need to be turned; otherwise, yo...

The Passport is a sport utility vehicle manufactured by Honda. Originally designed in 1993 in cooperation with the Isuzu company, the Passport was redesigned in 1998 to include more interior room, increased passenger comfort and more power....

Any check of your vehicle's brake lights system should begin with an inspection of the fuses. If they are in working order and you have already inspected the light bulbs in the tail light housings, the brake light switch may be the culprit....

The Infiniti is a fairly new brand of car, officially arriving on the market in the U.S. in 1989. Infiniti is the luxury branch of the popular Japanese parent company Nissan. Because Infiniti's name is not used in Japan, they are typically s...

The brake pads in your Ford Focus should need changing at 60,000 to 80,000 miles; if you do a lot of hard braking, you'll need to change them sooner. The 2005 Focus uses Teves brake calipers, which hold the pads within the caliper itself rat...

Replacing the brake pads on your 2005 Chevy Silverado is a great way to learn how your truck's braking system works. When replacing the pads, you should always inspect the surface and condition of the rotors as well. If you've had no other s...

The two common reasons for brakes squealing are worn brake pads and dry brake caliper pistons. Both culprits are relatively simple to remedy. The 2003 Dodge Caravan is a taller vehicle than a car, but the frame (or chassis) is that of a seda...

There are a couple different ways to tell if the rotors on your vehicle are bad. The first is a physical symptom known as a pulsation. This is caused by a few different reasons. The second way to tell if a rotor is bad is a physical inspecti...

Replacing the brake pads on the 1996 Honda Accord is a necessary repair after normal wear and tear conditions (generally between 20,000 and 35,000 miles, on average). The 1996 Accord features front wheel disc brakes and may offer either rear...

Brakes are one of the most significant wear items on any automobile. Brakes function by surface-to-surface friction between the brake pad and the brake disc. When brakes are refreshed by replacing worn pads and replacing or resurfacing worn...

Learning how to change the rear brake pads on your Acura Legend can save thousands in repair bills over the life of the car. Although the rear brake pads never wear down as quickly compared to the front pads, they require annual maintenance...

Installing rear brake rotors on your Trailblazer is an easy do-it-yourself repair. The brake rotors should be serviced regularly if you use the truck to tow, or do a lot of traveling during the year. Damage to rear brake rotors often occurs...

The anti-lock braking system on the 1990 Honda Accord uses three main components, in conjunction, to work effectively. The brake pads and calipers are responsible for squeezing against the brake rotor when the brake pedal is depressed. A rot...

The brake pads on your Ford Focus car need to be changed at 60,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on how hard you usually use the brakes. Most versions of the Ford Focus use Teves calipers, which are slightly different from those used in many ot...

The disc brake pads on your Jeep Liberty stop the Jeep while withstanding the high temperature generated from the friction involved in the braking process. There are many grades of brake pads, from organic pads to semi-metallic and even cera...

The rear brakes on the Mercury Cougar consist of a laminated brake shoe and drum assembly. The drums will wear over time or sometimes crack from heat and use. Replacing the drums with new OEM or aftermarket drums will restore your braking pe...

Replacing the brake pads on your 2003 Volkswagen Beetle is a fairly easy and economical do-it-yourself repair that will save you a few dollars. Brakes are composed of friction pads that pinch the brake disc, or drum, when you apply the press...

The 2000 Chevrolet Silverado truck was one of America's most popular vehicles when it first rolled off the assembly line. These trucks were equipped with disc brakes in the front, which use calipers, pads and rotors to create friction and sl...

Changing the rear brakes on a 1993 model Chevy Cavalier can be a painstaking process. The brake drums for the rear wheels use brake shoes that are assembled with a number of pins and springs. When disassembling the brake shoes, take note of...

Most vehicles require almost the same method for replacing the brake pads. Some vehicles might require different tools than others but the basic replacement process is the same. The brake pads are the main components in stopping the vehicle...

Changing your brake pads or removing and "turning" the old rotors (or replacing them) will ensure that both the surface on the new pads and the rotors are flat and smooth, maximizing the contact patch between them. Difficulty: EasyInstructio...

The 2000 Ford Focus uses a specially designed brake drum on the rear brakes, with the drum bolted in place over the brake assembly. The brake shoes used on the rear brakes are built for this type of brake drum, so make sure you have the corr...

Most auto repair shops will charge anywhere from a $100 up to $200 to change your brake pads. By purchasing the pads yourself and spending 20 minutes, you can save yourself some serious money. Difficulty: ModerateInstructionsThings You'll Ne...

Drum brakes on a Mazda Protege use a large drum instead of a caliper to slow down the rear wheels. The drum pushes a brake shoe against the drum, causing friction. This friction slows the drum, and consequently, also slows the wheel down. Ov...

An essential piece of equipment on passenger vehicles that needs regular tuneups is the braking system. The braking system of your car is operated by the master cylinder. A master cylinder is a device that controls the brake fluid in your br...

A brake pushrod connects the brake pedal to the power brake booster in your vehicle. The rod itself actuates the brake booster, and helps to create the vacuum necessary for the booster to work properly. Since the brake booster is connected t...

Power brakes utilize vacuum generated by the engine to lessen the force needed to apply the brakes in a vehicle as well as shorten the distance the brake pedal needs to travel. The power brake booster acts as a diaphragm that controls the le...

The braking system on a 2004 Mercedes S430 uses a four-wheel caliper and rotor system for maximum clamping force during braking. Hydraulic fluid is forced through steel tubing and into a mechanical caliper mechanism. The caliper forced a bra...

After sales on the rear-engine VW Beetle began to decline in 1973 and the acquisition of Audi, VW Motors designed the front water-cooled engine VW Passat. Available in 1974, the Passat has endured six generational redesigns and is still avai...

The 1999 Chevy Cavalier used a brake proportioning valve to route brake fluid to the front and rear wheels. The proportioning valve - as its name implies - proportions the brake fluid so that more fluid goes to the wheels that do the most br...

This is an article telling any girl or woman that we can do anything ourselves, if you want it bad enough. Even working on cars. I changed my brake pads and rotors (all front). I also, rotated my tires. I watched about 45 minutes of how-to v...

Depending on the year and manufacturing plant of your VW Passat, there could be a few different front braking systems in place that will vary slightly in procedure. Inspecting the brake system and purchasing a repair manual for your specific...

Any time you are working on your vehicle's brake system, you must remove any air trapped within the system so the brakes work properly. This is especially true if you have removed and are re-installing the brake master cylinder. Bleeding the...

The most common problem with Chevy brake systems is worn brake shoes and pads. The brake pads are designed to be wearable parts which must be replaced periodically to ensure proper brake function. When replacing brake shoes or pads always tr...

The ABS brake system in a GMC vehicle uses a sophisticated ABS module to sense wheel speed. If the vehicle's wheels stop moving while brake pressure is being applied, but the vehicle itself is still moving, the system identifies this as a sk...

The master cylinders on a Honda are generally good for the life of the vehicle. However, a seal failure inside the master cylinder can cause the cylinder to fail. This usually results in an initially firm brake pedal that slowly sinks to the...

The master cylinder on your Ford F-150 model develops the necessary pressure in the brake system to slow or stop your truck. However, worn or damaged pistons, valves, cups or housing may leak, stop working and make your brake system fail. Lu...

Acura brakes use a caliper and rotor design for maximum clamping force. The brakes for the Acura typically use a 15/16-inch master cylinder to push fluid through steel tubing, called brake line, to the calipers at the wheels. Over time, the...

Installing new rear brake shoes is a straightforward process of safely removing the old shoes, cleaning the parts that will be reused and installing the new shoes. But there are a few things that can be done to bring professional results. Th...

The brake booster in your vehicle provides the vacuum pressure needed to make applying brake pressure easy for most drivers. Without this vacuum pressure, you would need to apply the force of 10 people to get the same force you can get from...