Stopping Squealing Brakes

Stopping the vehicle is one of the essential parts of driving. We have all been driving down the road at one time or another, just to hear the squeaking of breaks that come along with vehicles that are driving by. Sometimes, it's our own vehicles that are making these squeaky brakes. Many drivers are unaware of the problems that can come with squeaking brakes. Did you know that this often an indication of brakes that have been worn down, or brakes that need attention from a mechanic or other vehicle professional?

What causes brakes to squeak? Vibrations that come through the breaks squeaking can cause the irritating squeaking that we have come to know. The high frequency of the vibrations results in the high pitch squeaking. Alternatively, the squeaking can come from the disc that secures the brakes, when the vehicle is coming to a stop.

How To Replace Brake Pads

How are brake problems fixed? Many times, the complete brake system requires replacing to correct the problem that is associated with the squeaking brakes, other times. The brake pads, brake discs and shoes can all be replaced when the brakes begin to squeak because the surfaces on the brakes are exposed to each other without any padding.

Stopping Squealing Brakes

Sometimes, new brakes have been known to squeal immediately after they have been replaced. If this is the case, give the brakes a few days to measure if the noise has subsided. If not, return to the mechanic to have the breaks examined to ensure that all components were installed correctly.

Did you know that depending on when the squealing of the brakes is present, than it can help to diagnose the problem? Did you know that a constant squeaking or squealing could mean that the brakes have dirt, grime or even a stone stuck within the mechanism? If the brake noises stop and start throughout the duration of the trip than it could mean that the brake pads are wearing down. Regardless of the noise coming from the vehicle, it is important to have the problem checked by a mechanic immediately, as it can mean there are serious safety issues occurring within the vehicle: after all, it is important that we are able to stop the vehicle when necessary, quickly and with ease.

Brakes are an essential part to the vehicle, therefore ease should be taken when choosing to install the brakes at home. Sometimes, errors can occur which can decrease the effectiveness of the brakes when they are truly required. If you choose to install your brakes at home, you should have proper know-how about technique, procedure and specific trouble shooting tips for brake installation.

Many drivers are unaware of the fact that brakes squeaking can be difficult to diagnose and can be even more difficult to stop. Did you know that in many vehicle manuals, brake squeaking is defined as being a normal function of the vehicle, as there is no liability to the auto Production Company, or warranty? For this reason, check your brakes - know your vehicle and be ready to take it into a licensed mechanic.

Stopping Squealing Brakes
How to change your brake pads on your hearse or old car par Video Clips. Duration : 6.93 Mins.

Miz raven - michelle Maynard is showing the steps one goes through when changing the brake pads in an older car in this case a 1969 Cadillac hearse.

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Winter Driving Tips for Bald Tires, Light Cars & Other Bad Winter Vehicles

by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

We've promoted. We've suggested. We've blogged, tweeted and status updated. We've offered coupons. We've done everything we possibly can to impress the importance of proper winter snow tires on our customers, and you've listened - most of you, that is.

Having been in the auto repair industry for as long as we have, we know that some people are just not going to follow our advice, no matter what we do. Maybe you don't believe you actually NEED snow tires, or maybe you just don't have the money for snow tires in your budget right now. Whatever your reasons for not getting those snow tires installed, this post is for you!

Keep in mind the recommendations below are NOT an encouragement to keep your vehicle unprepared for winter weather. Still, we understand that sometimes "life happens". If you're driving on bald tires for one reason or the other, we at least want you to have the driving knowledge to take what Michigan winters will throw at you.

Winter Driving on Bald Tires

So you're driving on summer tires, bald tires, or perhaps all weather tires. If your vehicle is "compact", it's much more susceptible to skidding around on the ice and getting blown off course by semi trucks. What can you do to drive safely in these conditions?

Slow. Down. It's painfully basic, but it's true. The faster your bald-tired little vehicle goes on slippery snow and ice, the less traction it has. If your car is not equipped for winter, leave yourself more time to get places and drive slowly during inclement road conditions. Sure, it's inconvenient, but it could save your life.


Use lower gears. This especially applies to driving up or down inclines on icy roads; using lower gears can help to give you more traction and maintain a slower, steadier speed.

Never forget road conditions. If you're driving on bald tires during an ice storm, you're probably not going to think about anything else until you've taken the key out of the ignition. If you're driving on old all-weather tires in slushy barely freezing weather, however, you might be tempted to become overconfident and forget about your car's treacherous position. The moment you take your vehicle's traction for granted and brake or steer too hard is the moment you might lose control of the vehicle.

Maintain space between your car and other vehicles. Who cares if you're driving like dear old grandma? Maintaining extra space between the cars around you is an easy way to avoid costly fender benders in town. On the freeway, it's an easy way to avoid a fatal crash.

Don't rely on your brakes. When you're driving on bad tires in bad conditions, avoid the temptation to over-brake at all costs. If your vehicle has little or no traction, braking hard is more likely to cause your car to spin out of control than anything else. At high speeds on the freeway, even braking lightly on ice can cause your brakes to lock and your vehicle to lose control. In these situations, the best way to slow down is to remove your foot from the gas, wait for some deceleration (if you can), then pump the brake pedal slowly and firmly. If you don't have ABS, this can also prevent your wheels from locking.

Drive behind salt trucks. Passing heavy equipment during inclement weather is treacherous in a vehicle equipped with great snow tires. If you're driving a poorly equipped car, do yourself a favor and remain behind salt trucks as long as you can. Sure, you'll probably get where you're going late, and your car will definitely need an undercarriage wash, but you'll avoid a potentially bad accident.

If your vehicle is medium to heavy duty truck with rear or four wheel drive, toss heavy items such as bricks or old summer tires in the back. Even if your tires are bald, the extra weight should help to give you a little much-needed traction.

Safe driving! (and remember: it's not too late to get snow tires installed...)

Mountain Bike Maintenance - Mechanics 101

Mountain bike maintenance can become an obstacle course, if you don't have some basic skills.

Owning a mountain bike - whether you are a serious rider or simply enjoy it as a sport - is an investment in time and money. Protect that investment by learning a few tricks of the trade as far as mountain bike maintenance is concerned.

How To Replace Brake Pads

The first important thing in mountain bike maintenance is very simple: keep your bike clean! Wipe off excess dirt once a week, using a dry cloth or a damp soapy sponge. During wet weather, or with frequent use, it is a good idea to wash your bike after every ride. If you don't do this, you will find that there are a lot of sticky stuff out there that may become unwelcome, permanent fixtures.

Mountain Bike Maintenance - Mechanics 101

Another regular habit you need to adopt as part of mountain bike maintenance, is degreasing the chain and drivetrain. How often you do this depends on how often you ride. It should be done once a month at least, and up to two or three times per month if you ride on a regular basis.

Lubrication of the chain is essential. There are many excellent lubricants on the market. Choose one that suits your needs. Keep in mind that newer lubricants such as White Lightning are self-cleaning, which minimizes mountain bike maintenance.

It is best to apply lubricant the night before you ride. Doing it ten minutes before, prevents it from getting into the chain properly.

As part of mountain bike maintenance, it is vital to maintain the correct air pressure in the tires. Taking care of this small detail will protect your expensive tires. It also prevents frequent tube problems.

Gear cables tend to stretch over time, which makes gear shifting less effective. Gear and brake cables should be checked regularly, and replaced more often than most people realize. New ones should be put in every six to nine months as part of general mountain bike maintenance, and the cable housing should be replaced at the same time.

Another item on you mountain bike maintenance list, is your brake pads. These wear extremely fast. You need to check the alignment of the brake pads against the rims. They should sit squarely on the rim when the brakes are applied.

When relaxed, they should be clear of the sidewall of your tire as it turns. Replace the brake pads when they get to the wear line. Allowing them to go onto the metal casing, will damage your rims.

Check all the nuts and bolts in your monthly mountain bike maintenance routine. Invest in an Allen key or spanner and tighten the loose bolts, such as crank bolts, seatpost bolts, and headset locknuts.

Lastly, one simple way to look after your bike is to keep it under cover, preferably indoors. Don't expose it to the elements any more than necessary.

Be careful when using a bike cover outside. These tend to trap moisture between the cover and the ground, and will cause the steel parts on your bike to corrode more rapidly, giving cause for more mountain bike maintenance than you ever had in mind!

Take good care of your bike and it will take good care of you!

For more information visit Best-Mountain-Biking.com

Mountain Bike Maintenance - Mechanics 101
Brakes - You could spend more but why? Tube. Duration : 0.52 Mins.

Budget Brakes uses the best parts available and offers you the best prices, guaranteed! Check out www.BudgetBrakes.com for locations, coupons and special offers.

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How to Replace a Truck Ball Joint : How to Remove a Caliper on Trucks

How to Replace a Truck Ball Joint : How to Remove a Caliper on Trucks Video Clips. Duration : 2.07 Mins.

Learn how to properly remove your caliper in thisfree auto repair and car maintenance video clip. Expert: Nathan McCullough Bio: Nathan McCullough graduated from Nashville Auto-Diesel College with a GPA of 3.5 and received their Craftsmanship Award and Honor Seal. Filmmaker: Robert Rogers

Tags: repair, maintenance, ball, auto, car, joint, mechanic

We'll take care of you for less.

We'll take care of you for less. Tube. Duration : 0.52 Mins.

Budget Brakes uses the best parts available and offers you the best prices, guaranteed! Check out www.BudgetBrakes.com for locations, coupons and special offers.

Keywords: Budget brakes, brake repair, cheap brakes, brakes, brake repair cost, brake replace, brake pads, brake service, alignment, tire rotation, wheel balancing