It is believed that the most difficult time for the brake system is the hot summer since the brake system already generates a large amount of heat. However, winter also carries its own threats: temperature extremes, alternating frosts with thaws, dirt, road reagents can easily make actuators completely unusable, especially if they already have significant wear. In addition, after the past summer, especially if the car took long trips, it is really worth checking the wheels and pads and, if necessary, replacing them using the online auto parts store sparepartstore24.co.uk.
How Long have the Brakes been Tested?
The standard interval for checking the brake system is between 15,000 and 20,000 km. And this despite the fact that there are no signs indicating wear of the disks or pads, such as vibration, suspicious noises, the appearance of cracks and disc color change caused by overheating.
Disk Check
Usually, discs should be replaced when the thickness of the disc in the area of the working surface has reached the minimum (minimum thickness, Min TH) specified by the manufacturer. With a smaller thickness, the brakes can no longer maintain efficiency and ensure safety. At the same time, if the limit threshold has not yet been reached, but before that, there are about a couple of months left, feel free to recommend replacing the disks.
Checking Pads
Similarly, brake pads should be replaced when they reach the minimum permissible thickness. In some pads, either electrical or sound mechanical wear indicators signal the achievement of the minimum thickness; in other pads, wear is checked by visual inspection. As in the case of the disk, during the autumn inspection, leaving pads that are short-lived is a very dubious means of saving. Thin, and probably having microcracks, pads are also more likely to crack.
Check Brake Fluid
The properties of the brake fluid rapidly deteriorate due to its hygroscopicity. The fact is that modern brake fluids are based on polyglycols and their esters. These liquids are more effective, have a high boiling point, good viscous and lubricating properties.
Due to its hygroscopicity, the brake fluid absorbs moisture from the external environment through the walls of the hoses in the hydraulic circuit. This moisture lowers the boiling point of the liquid. As a result of this, brake fluid is very likely to boil when the brake system overheats. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon, known as the “steam plug”, causing an increase in braking distance. Therefore, it is important to check the brake fluid level and its quality at intervals specified by the manufacturer, and replace if necessary.
Checking Brake Calipers
Brake calipers and other hydraulic components of the brake system (hoses, brake pistons, brake master cylinders) do not wear out during friction, like pads and discs, and they must be changed only after prolonged use or after accidental damage. However, calipers, in particular, can prematurely fail when used in very cold or aggressive environmental conditions. Extremely low temperatures, rain, snow, and other factors, such as salt and chemicals, can cause accelerated wear. Therefore, it is important to carefully check the entire system to ensure that the caliper pistons move freely and that the calipers themselves do not show signs of poor performance.
