June 1 2001 - Feature
The Ins and Outs of Brakes
By Denise Bibee
Maintenance and Inspection
According to David Knecht, director of maintenance for Greene Classic Limousine in Atlanta, the master cylinder fluid level should be consistently checked and kept full. “If the master cylinder ever gets empty, air could get into the system and you could lose your brakes,” Knecht says. He advises inspecting the outside of the master cylinder for any leaks. Brakes and related components should be inspected once a year, or more frequently depending on your mileage.
Another factor with long-term negative consequences is moisture, whether it’s harsh winter weather or light spring rain. According to the manufacturers at Bendix Brakes, moisture can change the characteristics of the entire braking system. Most often, wet brakes will lose friction, making them slightly less effective at stopping. The good news is that when you are driving, the heat and friction from braking dries out some of the moisture that forms in the system before it does much damage. Your brakes will usually return to their normal performance after driving for a few miles in wet weather. However, if heavy rain occurs frequently in your area, it will eventually affect your vehicle’s overall braking performance.
To avoid brake damage, when you approach water that is hubcap deep, slow down your vehicle and gently ride the brakes. Riding the brakes creates heat from braking friction and dries some of the moisture before it does any harm. If your vehicle’s brakes are in water for a great length of time without being driven, problems can develop quickly. The braking system will collect moisture and damage can set in. Some parts can stick or bind, resulting in uneven wear or erratic pulling upon application. Other brake parts will slowly rust internally if exposed to excessive amounts of water. Additionally, brake cables could become non-functional. Make sure that the braking system receives a thorough inspection, cleaning and fluid flushing.
When It’s Time to Replace
How often brakes are replaced will often depend on the individual driver and the type of driving taking place. “I can take a vehicle and put three different drivers in it, and it will require brakes at three different intervals,” Strang says. “Since we are also a Chrysler dealer, I had a vehicle that Chrysler bought back. The customer had registered many complaints and gone through numerous sets of brakes.”
Strang arranged it so that he could take the car and use it himself. He had a new set of brakes installed on the vehicle and drove it regularly to see if he could exceed the previous owner’s mileage. “The customer was going through brakes every 6,000 miles,” Strang says. After continuous use, he put 15,000 miles on the car without the need for brake replacement. “In this case, it was just abuse – the way it was being driven,” he says. “In most cases, a driver that knows how to stop properly and isn’t doing ‘panic stops’ — they’re going to get probably 15,000 to 20,000 miles out of a set of brakes. Somebody who’s driving a vehicle very hard will be lucky if they get 9,000 miles or sometimes even less.”
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