In most modern cars, the main executive, and therefore most energy-intensive elements of the braking system are discs, calipers and pads placed in it. Therefore, there should be no trifles in terms of maintenance, replacement or repair of these important parts, which are constantly subjected to repeated mechanical and thermal loads. Otherwise, the risk of disrupting their interconnected work significantly increases. And this is already fraught with accident. What should you pay attention to first to avoid mistakes?
Remove preservative from discs
Let’s start with brake discs. Note that an experienced master, changing them, will certainly use a special spray cleaner. But novice mechanics may not know about this procedure. But why do you need a cleaner? We answer: New brake discs go on sale or go to the warehouse in preservative grease, which prevents corrosion during transport. All this is good, just grease on the surface of the brake “pancakes” can also do a disservice.
Note: If the greasy “preservative” is not removed when installing new discs on the machine, it can easily be absorbed into the surface of the friction linings and leave them greasy for a long time. Such inattention, made by a master or a car owner during self-repair, will immediately backfire. You can be sure that after this the braking efficiency of the car will deteriorate sharply, because the friction between the discs and the “greasy” brake pads will be noticeably lower than normal. Therefore, new brake discs should always be degreased, preferably with a special aerosol.
Pads need heat resistant grease
It is clear that new brake pads, unlike discs, do not require cleaning when replaced. However, autochemistry is also required here. In order for the brake pads to work after installation in the calipers, as they say, like clockwork, their backs must be covered with a special mixture. To do this, they usually use ordinary preparations such as heat-resistant anti-cracking paste or, for example, heat-resistant copper grease. And here the question arises: do auto mechanics do such an operation?
Our personal experience visiting various auto repair shops clearly shows that today, even in professional service centers, such anti-friction treatment of the back of the pads is often not carried out, but in vain! Meanwhile, experts note that such a lubricant completely eliminates the squeaking of the brake pads when in contact with the caliper pistons. In addition, which is also important, it reduces the thermal load on the hydraulic brake circuit, extending its service life.
Watch out for your fingers and their guides!
It is worth recalling the mandatory use of a lubricant intended for processing guide pins. As practice shows, many repairmen also often “forget” about this procedure. Which, of course, disrupts the normal operation of the brakes. Without processing the guides, the mobility of the caliper parts deteriorates, uneven wear of the brake pads and discs occurs, and the speed of the braking mechanisms decreases. Therefore, always ask the master to check the presence of lubrication. The best option is to take it with you.
As you can see, there is nothing technically complicated about maintaining and repairing brakes. You just need to follow the rules and use the recommended auto chemicals correctly. In addition, they are available in bulk, including Russian-made.
As an example, Ruseff brand products can be mentioned, where all kinds of necessary preparations are presented (photo above), including an aerosol brake cleaner, which has a number of important characteristics. The container with this aerosol has a thin “nose”, which allows you to process the necessary nodes with high quality. The can itself is equipped with a special valve, which allows it to be turned in any position, including “upside down”. And this is important when processing hard-to-reach places of braking mechanisms.
To treat the back of the pads, Ruseff produces an anti-squeak paste and a heat-resistant copper grease. A feature of these products is a thick consistency that allows lubricants to adhere well, even on vertical surfaces. At the same time, they are not afraid of ultra-high temperatures and are highly resistant to washing and dirt. Ruseff also has an effective brake caliper guide lubricant. It is developed on the basis of silicone with the addition of silicon dioxide gel. As practice has shown, such lubrication is guaranteed to exclude acidification of the conductors, which ensures smooth and trouble-free operation of the brake pads during braking.
In most modern cars, the main executive, and therefore most energy-intensive elements of the braking system are discs, calipers and pads placed in it. Therefore, there should be no trifles in terms of maintenance, replacement or repair of these important parts, which are constantly subjected to repeated mechanical and thermal loads. Otherwise, the risk of disrupting their interconnected work significantly increases. And this is already fraught with accident. What should you pay attention to first to avoid mistakes?
Remove preservative from discs
Let’s start with brake discs. Note that an experienced master, changing them, will certainly use a special spray cleaner. But novice mechanics may not know about this procedure. But why do you need a cleaner? We answer: New brake discs go on sale or go to the warehouse in preservative grease, which prevents corrosion during transport. All this is good, just grease on the surface of the brake “pancakes” can also do a disservice.
Note: If the greasy “preservative” is not removed when installing new discs on the machine, it can easily be absorbed into the surface of the friction linings and leave them greasy for a long time. Such inattention, made by a master or a car owner during self-repair, will immediately backfire. You can be sure that after this the braking efficiency of the car will deteriorate sharply, because the friction between the discs and the “greasy” brake pads will be noticeably lower than normal. Therefore, new brake discs should always be degreased, preferably with a special aerosol.
Pads need heat resistant grease
It is clear that new brake pads, unlike discs, do not require cleaning when replaced. However, autochemistry is also required here. In order for the brake pads to work after installation in the calipers, as they say, like clockwork, their backs must be covered with a special mixture. To do this, they usually use ordinary preparations such as heat-resistant anti-cracking paste or, for example, heat-resistant copper grease. And here the question arises: do auto mechanics do such an operation?
Our personal experience visiting various auto repair shops clearly shows that today, even in professional service centers, such anti-friction treatment of the back of the pads is often not carried out, but in vain! Meanwhile, experts note that such a lubricant completely eliminates the squeaking of the brake pads when in contact with the caliper pistons. In addition, which is also important, it reduces the thermal load on the hydraulic brake circuit, extending its service life.
Watch out for your fingers and their guides!
It is worth recalling the mandatory use of a lubricant intended for processing guide pins. As practice shows, many repairmen also often “forget” about this procedure. Which, of course, disrupts the normal operation of the brakes. Without processing the guides, the mobility of the caliper parts deteriorates, uneven wear of the brake pads and discs occurs, and the speed of the braking mechanisms decreases. Therefore, always ask the master to check the presence of lubrication. The best option is to take it with you.
As you can see, there is nothing technically complicated about maintaining and repairing brakes. You just need to follow the rules and use the recommended auto chemicals correctly. In addition, they are available in bulk, including Russian-made.
As an example, Ruseff brand products can be mentioned, where all kinds of necessary preparations are presented (photo above), including an aerosol brake cleaner, which has a number of important characteristics. The container with this aerosol has a thin “nose”, which allows you to process the necessary nodes with high quality. The can itself is equipped with a special valve, which allows it to be turned in any position, including “upside down”. And this is important when processing hard-to-reach places of braking mechanisms.
To treat the back of the pads, Ruseff produces an anti-squeak paste and a heat-resistant copper grease. A feature of these products is a thick consistency that allows lubricants to adhere well, even on vertical surfaces. At the same time, they are not afraid of ultra-high temperatures and are highly resistant to washing and dirt. Ruseff also has an effective brake caliper guide lubricant. It is developed on the basis of silicone with the addition of silicon dioxide gel. As practice has shown, such lubrication is guaranteed to exclude acidification of the conductors, which ensures smooth and trouble-free operation of the brake pads during braking.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
I’m Sandra Torres, a passionate journalist and content creator. My specialty lies in covering the latest gadgets, trends and tech news for Div Bracket. With over 5 years of experience as a professional writer, I have built up an impressive portfolio of published works that showcase my expertise in this field.