What is a Brake Job?
Replacing pads or shoes on your brakes is the most common brake repair. But a proper job should include a full inspection of all brake parts. Here are some recommendations: (Consumer Reports) • Installing new pad holders or shoe springs. That’s inexpensive — and important to reduce noise during braking. • “Turning” the rotors or drums. A lathe smoothes their surface to eliminate the grooves. Your mechanic may push this, but it’s not necessary unless the surface is deeply scored; deep grooves in the rotors or drums reduce brake performance. All rotors have the minimum recommended thickness imprinted on them. Have your mechanic measure the rotor before turning it. • Flushing the brake system. Brake fluid gradually absorbs moisture from the air. Eventually, that can corrode brake components and reduce braking performance. Advice on drain intervals varies: Mercedes recommends two- to three-year intervals. BMW specifies two years, starting from the date of manufacture. Ford says the fluid
