Your brake fluid requires regular service because it
becomes contaminated by moisture.
How does moisture get into your brake fluid? Brake
fluid is hygroscopic, which means that it attracts and absorbs
moisture from the atmosphere, usually through the brake master
cylinder reservoir and permeable brake hoses.
Moisture contamination lowers the boiling point of
your brake fluid, so even under ordinary driving
conditions, moisture could cause the fluid to boil and release vapor
into your brake system. When this vapor compresses inside the
system, you may find yourself facing a most dreaded driving crisis-
a dangerously low brake peddle or no brake peddle at all!
Moisture contamination can also result in very
costly repairs, into the thousands, if you have ABS type brakes.
When moisture contaminated brake fluid reaches very high
temperatures, as much as 450-500 degrees, an electrochemical
reaction makes the fluid highly acidic. The acid breaks down the
steel lines and rubber hoses and can cause early failure of the cast
iron and aluminum components in the brake system module.
Brake fluid contamination has become so much of a
concern, car manufacturers have added brake fluid service to their
required maintenance schedules.
Let our ASE certified technicians
at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair perform this
important safety service for you today.
Power Brakes
The following Power Brakes video is
presented for Cleveland Ohio area auto owners by Willoughby Hills Auto Repair:
The following Power Brakes animation
is presented for Northeast Ohio residents by Willoughby Hills Auto Repair:
"Brake fluid contamination
has become so much of a concern, car manufacturers have added
brake fluid service to their required maintenance schedules."
Racing legend Richard Petty
once said, “If you’ve got good brakes you can stay out of a lot of
trouble.” If you’re hearing unusual sounds when you brake or if
your brake pedal is feeling squishy or too hard, have us do a
disc brake inspection for you. We’ll tell you if there’s
something wrong and what it’ll take to get your brakes all fixed
up.
Make a Difference with Berea Children's Home & Family
Services (BCHFS)
The
Brakes for Kids Program helps raise money and awareness for Berea
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Basically, the power brake system
helps you provide braking power so that you don’t
have to do all the work with your brake pedal.
The brakes themselves are applied
at the wheel using hydraulic pressure. When we step on the brake
pedal, we create pressure in the power booster that’s multiplied
by vacuum from the engine. The resulting pressure pushes
brake fluid through the master cylinder
into tubes and hoses that run to the brake at each wheel.
When there’s a problem, it’s
usually a fluid leak somewhere along the line. It
could be at a fitting or a hose, or even an internal leak
in the master cylinder. A leak gives the pressurized
fluid somewhere to go other than to the brakes, so stopping power
is hurt. Lose enough fluid and you can’t stop at all. Of course
that’s extremely dangerous.
If you notice any decrease in stopping power or
if your pedal seems mushy, you could have a problem. There are
some preventive maintenance items for the power brake system that
will help them last longer.
Obviously you’d want to make sure
your brake fluid is filled to the recommended level. Low fluid in
the master cylinder could indicate a leak or worn brake material.
Master cylinder leaks are usually just because
it’s worn out but, leaks in the brake lines and connectors can be
minimized by replacing the brake fluid from time to time. Brake
fluid has additives that protect against corrosion that can damage
brake components.
Brake fluid also
attracts moisture which can lead to rust – not a good thing for
expensive anti-lock brake components. Also, significant amounts of
water in the brake fluid can affect stopping power because the
water has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid. In the high
temperature environment of the brake system, the water can
vaporize – and steam doesn’t do a very good job of providing
hydraulic pressure.
A final word – make sure you use
the recommended type of brake fluid. There are
several kinds and using the wrong one can lead to total brake
failure. Our service advisor at Willoughby Hills Auto Repair can
help you. Just give us a call at 440.585.1691.
At Willoughby Hills Auto Repair
in Willoughby Hills OH we install quality NAPA replacement parts.
To learn more about
NAPA AutoCare, visit
www.NAPAAutoCare.com.
Drum Brakes
The following
Drum Brakes video is presented by Willoughby Hills Auto Repair:
The following
Drum Brakes animation is presented by Willoughby Hills Auto
Repair:
Brakes that work properly are
essential to your safety as you drive and stop on our Northeast
Ohio streets. You want to carefully maintain your
brakes. In vehicles equipped with drum brakes, the
brake components are housed inside a drum that rotates with the
wheel. When you step on the brake pedal, brake shoes push out
against the inside of the drum, slowing the wheel.
Now brake shoes just
wear away with use from rubbing on the drum as you
brake. When it’s time to replace brake shoes, it’s a
straight-forward repair.
If you hear squealing or grinding when braking,
have your Willoughby Hills service advisor check them out. He’ll
have a technician perform a thorough brake inspection to see
what needs to be done. He’ll check for signs of brake
problems and go over other brake components to see that
they’re working properly.
He can tell you if it’s time to
replace the brake shoes or if there are other
issues with your brakes that should be addressed. Some people in
our Willoughby Hills community ignore the warning signs and keep
driving long after the shoes are completely worn out. When that
happens, metal brake components will grind against the drum,
damaging it enough that it has to be resurfaced or replaced.
When you push on your brake
pedal, the wheel cylinder is activated and it pushes the shoes
against the drum to slow the vehicle. This cylinder, and various
springs within the brake, can wear out affecting your
ability to stop. The worn components can be easily
replaced.
The new brake shoes we put on
your sedan or other vehicle will restore your brakes to
manufacturers’ specifications. Or, we can install upgraded parts
to increase your stopping power and reduce brake noise
and brake dust. We have several options to meet your
braking requirements and your budget.
Taking care of your brakes
keeps them working safely – and you could prevent premature
brake repairs down the road.
At Willoughby Hills Auto Repair
in Willoughby Hills OH we install quality NAPA replacement
parts. Call us at 440.585.1691 to learn more about
NAPA AutoCare, or visit
www.NAPAAutoCare.com
