How to Service Brakes

Co-authored by Matthew Rava

Last Updated: April 13, 2024 References

Your automobile's brake system may be one of the most important safety systems in your vehicle. When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, the master cylinder forces brake fluid via the brake lines into the wheel cylinders or caliper pistons. This activates the brake shoes or pads, which rub against the rotor or drum, and this slows your car down. You should check and service your brake system every six months to keep it in working order.

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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Servicing Disc Brakes

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While the car is on the ground, you should use a lug wrench or an impact wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Doing it this way prevents the tires from spinning. This helps break the lugs loose more efficiently and more safely.
Consult your service manual for safe jacking points. Slide the jack under the car and position it directly under the jacking point. Jack the car up and secure it with jack stands .

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3
Remove the wheels. Now that the car is lifted, the weight will no longer be on the tires. You can finish removing the lugs either by hand or with your wrench. Then, simply slide the wheel away from the wheelbase .
- You should always slide the wheel underneath the car. This adds an extra layer of safety if the jack stands fail.
Now that you have the wheel off, you will be looking directly at your brake rotor. Mounted on the rotor (usually to the right) you will see your brake caliper. The brake caliper holds the brake pads against the rotor on either side.
Brake calipers differ slightly from car to car, but they are always held in place by bolts or clips. ^{[1]
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Research source} These are usually located at the top and bottom of the caliper. Once the bolts and/or clips are removed, the caliper can be pulled away from the rotor. You do not need to disconnect the brake line from the caliper, but you should tie it up with wire or cord so that it doesn’t get kinked or damaged. ^{[2]
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Expert Source

Matthew Rava
Auto Repair Expert

Expert Interview. 5 May 2022.} ^{[3]
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6
Inspect the brake pads for wear or damage. Some brake pads have a groove in the middle that serves as an indicator for wear. If the groove is nearly gone, the pads are in need of changing. In any case, if the pad is less than ¼ inch thick or is chipped or damaged, it needs replaced. ^{[4]
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Expert Source

Matthew Rava
Auto Repair Expert

Expert Interview. 5 May 2022.} ^{[5]
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- To avoid break failure make sure that brake pads thickness is over three millimeters. ^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Matthew Rava
  Auto Repair Expert
  
  Expert Interview. 5 May 2022.}
Your calipers should not need replaced, as they are designed to last for the life of the car. That being said, if there is damage on the caliper it might need replaced. ^{[7]
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Research source} Also, it is possible that the bolts or pins that hold the caliper in place could be damaged. If this is the case you will need to replace those. ^{[8]
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8
Take a close look at the brake rotor. The brake disc, or rotor, is another important part of the braking system. When the brakes are applied, the pads press down on the rotor to create the friction needed for stopping. This generates a lot of pressure and heat. If your rotors are not thick enough, or if they have grooves or chips in them, they will need to be replaced. ^{[9]
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Expert Source

Matthew Rava
Auto Repair Expert

Expert Interview. 5 May 2022.} ^{[10]
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- Minimum rotor thickness is generally stamped on the outside of the disc and can be measured using a micrometer, a side caliper, or a tape measurer. ^{[11]
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  Research source} The micrometer is the easiest and most accurate measurement. ^{[12]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Servicing Drum Brakes

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The drum brake is located behind the wheel. Once the wheel is out of the way, you will have access to the brake drum.
2
Remove the drum. Removing the drum will provide you access to the inner workings of your brakes, which are mounted on the backing plate. To do this, you will need to first remove the dust cap in the center. Underneath, there will be a retaining nut and cotter pin. Use pliers to remove the cotter pin and a socket to remove the nut. The drum should now slide off. ^{[13]
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- If you have trouble sliding the drum off, check to be sure there are not additional bolts or clips holding it to the hub. ^{[14]
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- It is possible for the brake shoes to get stuck against the drum. In this case, you will need to remove the rubber plug on the back of the backing plate to gain access to the brake shoe adjuster. Use a flathead screwdriver or brake adjuster bar to retract them. ^{[15]
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The brake shoe liners should not be less than the minimum recommended thickness. For the leading brake shoe (the one closest to the front of the car) this is usually around 1/8 inch. For the trailing brake shoe (the one closest to the back of the car) this is usually around 7/64 inch. Check your service manual for your car’s exact specifications and replace any brake liners that do not meet that standard.
4
Identify and inspect your return springs. These springs are responsible for returning the brake shoes to their proper resting location after you remove your foot from the brake pedal. It is important that these springs are not damaged or loose. As long as the springs are still tight and are not damaged or overly rusted, you can continue to use them. ^{[16]
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- If you need to remove the springs to replace them, or so that you can remove and replace your brake shoes, using brake spring pliers can make this a breeze.
It is best practice to change the wheel cylinder anytime you have the brake drums off. The brakes will continue to work as long as the cylinder does not leak or stick, but it is impossible to look at the cylinder and determine how much wear is on the inside. ^{[17]
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Research source} To replace the wheel cylinder, you will need to first remove the brake line with a wrench. Next, unbolt the cylinder from the backing plate by removing the one or two bolts that hold it there. Install the new cylinder by bolting it into place where the original was, and then connecting the brake line.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Inspecting and Servicing the Hydraulic Brake System

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This is the reservoir tank that stores brake fluid. It is located under the hood on the driver’s side firewall. ^{[18]
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This will indicate that the master cylinder is leaking. This will result in too little brake fluid in the system and will reduce your stopping power. Not having enough will result in a weak or spongy brake. ^{[19]
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3
Check your brake fluid. Hydraulic braking fluid is the medium that allows force to be transferred from the brake pedal to the brake. Remove the lid from the master cylinder and look inside. The brake fluid should be all the way up to the “Full” line. If it is not, you will need to add brake fluid and follow any air purging techniques that your service manual recommends. ^{[20]
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- Do not let dirt or other contaminants fall into the master cylinder. This will compromise your brake system. When your done checking your brake fluid, replace the master cylinder cap. ^{[21]
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- You should also change your brake fluid as often as your owner’s manual recommends, otherwise it may absorb moisture from the air that corrodes the system and lowers the pressure inside the brake lines by allowing the fluid to boil. ^{[22]
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If you have rubber brake lines, make sure that there are no punctures, leaks, or deterioration along the entire length of the line. If you have metal brake lines, you should also check for corrosion or rust. If you see any of these signs of deteriorating brake lines, you will need to replace your lines. ^{[23]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What is done during a brake service?

Matthew Rava
Auto Repair Expert
Matthew Rava is an Auto Repair Expert and the Co-founder & Head of Marketing of Brakes to You. He specializes in auto repairs that concern brakes. Matthew earned a BS from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Matthew Rava

Auto Repair Expert

Expert Answer

The technician inspects each of the pads and rotors and makes sure that they're in good health. They'll make sure that there are no divots or scoring in the rotors, and that the brake pads have good thickness. Typically, a brand new brake pad is about 12 mm thick, and the technician will make sure that the brake pads are at least 3 mm thick. From there, they'll assess everything, see what needs to be replaced, and do the repairs at the time that are necessary.

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Why are my breaks squeaking?

Community Answer

As brake pads wear down they will begin to squeak or squeal. Many brake pads are even designed with a clip that starts making these noises as an early warning sign that your pads are wearing thin. If you are experiencing these sounds while driving you should service your brakes as soon as possible.

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Question

Do I change brake pads or rotors first?

Logic Johnson Lafontaine

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Pads. The pads always wear out before the rotors (which may never need to be changed if you keep your brakes in good shape). Changing the rotors before the pads is like changing teeth before changing toothbrushes.

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Tips

You should also check the parking brake. ^{[24]
X
Expert Source

Jason Shackelford
Auto Technician

Expert Interview. 11 June 2019.} Make sure that the cables are in good shape and that the brake works properly, as it is a needed back up incase the hydraulic brakes fail. It also works the automatic adjuster for some drum brakes. ^{[25]
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Research source}

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If your parking brake is stuck and your vehicle has a foot pedal for the emergency brake, look for a release lever on top. Be careful to not pinch your fingers! ^{[26]
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Expert Source

Jason Shackelford
Auto Technician

Expert Interview. 11 June 2019.}

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You should clean your brake parts with brake dust cleaner every time you service them.

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Warnings

Some models are equipped with newer features such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) and regenerative braking systems. These do not require additional maintenance, but may need additional repairs if they fail.

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Your brakes should be inspected every six months to ensure proper functioning.

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Never rely on a jack to hold your car up. Always use jack stands.

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Things You'll Need

Servicing Disc Brakes
- Repair Manual for Your Vehicle
- Shop Rags
- Lug Wrench
- Car Lift or Jack
- Anti-Seize Compound
- Torque Wrench
- Any Replacement Parts
- Socket Set
Servicing Drum Brakes
- Flathead Screwdriver or Brake Adjuster Bar
- Brake Spring Pliers
Servicing the Hydraulic Brake System
- Brake Fluid

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Jason Shackelford
Auto Technician

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How to Service Brakes

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Servicing Disc Brakes

Servicing Drum Brakes

Inspecting and Servicing the Hydraulic Brake System

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