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The Importance of Brake Performance
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Pulling or grabbing to one side can happen for a number of reasons. Pulling can occur from maladjustment of the brakes, a frozen brake, brake fluid leakage, frozen emergency brake cables, or oil or grease leakage on the brake shoes or pads.
Loss of brake pedal usually is a result of brake fluid leakage due to failure of a brake hose or rusted metal brake line, worn wheel cylinder or brake caliper, or worn master cylinder. A simple "once over" of the system can reveal what's going on.
Pulsation of the brake pedal is caused simply by heat and wear. Heat and mechanical wear thin out the brake rotor, or drum, causing warping. This warping translates into a pulsation (up and down motion) of the brake pedal while applying the brakes. Re-machining or replacement is the answer in this case.
Clicking noises during braking have been a problem ever since disc brakes came on the scene. The disc brake pads are held in place by pressure from the caliper against the brake rotor. It's somewhat of a loose fit. The factory installs "anti-rattle" devices to stop movement of the brake pads, which will stop the clicking noise. These devices are made of spring steel and over time become brittle and break, allowing the brake pad to loosely ride in its seat, causing rattling.
Excessive drag during acceleration: Ever feel like someone "threw the anchor out" (so to speak) during acceleration? Maybe it's because the emergency brake cables are frozen due to rust buildup, and are not releasing when they're supposed to. A simple way to avoid this is to use your emergency brake! Remember this very simple rule -- "If you don't use it, you lose it!"
Have your brakes checked every six months, so there are no surprises. You can "head off high dollar brake work at the pass" by keeping a watchful eye on your brakes.
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