What A Mechanic Look For When Inspecting Your Brakes
Posted on: 18 January 2021
Ever wonder what happens when you take your vehicle in for a brake inspection? If so, it helps to know what they will be looking for to identify a problem.
The Way The Vehicle Handles
A mechanic can often tell what is wrong with your brakes by driving your car for a little bit. Symptoms such as a brake pedal that feels a bit spongy, vibrations, and sounds when braking can give the mechanic an idea about what problems you have without even taking a look at the brakes.
The Condition Of The Brake Hose
Even if you have had your brakes repaired or replaced in the past, it's possible that the old brake hoses need replacement. It is possible for those old hoses to become old and frail over the years, which causes problems with brake fluids not getting to the brakes. A mechanic looks for evidence of the old clips on the brake hose being removed in the past since it's good evidence that will tell if it is the old hose or the original hose. If the hose has been replaced, it will probably have some bright metal on the brackets that hold the hose, since it takes some work to remove it.
The Color Of The Rotor
The color of the rotor can tell a lot about the shape of the brake system. If the rotor has a blue cast to it, it means that the rotor is getting quite hot from being on the road. This is a good indication that the caliper on the rotor is frozen, and too much pressure is being applied to the rotor and causing unnecessary wear to the part. The mechanic will try to fix the caliper so that the part is not applying constant pressure on the rotor, which will produce less wear and tear on the part. In extreme situations, the rotor will need to be replaced.
The Scoring On The Rotor
If the rotor has a lot of scoring on it, this typically means that the brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced. There is actually a small piece of metal that is designed to rub against the rotor to make a squeaking sound, which tells you that the brake pads are near their life. If this sound is ignored, that metal is going to constantly rub against the rotor and cause it to become scored in the process.
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