If you experience issues with the brakes on your car this can be incredibly dangerous for not only you but other road users too. Not everyone has the time to get to the garage during the week, which is why you can easily address the issue yourself at home and make sure your vehicle is safe enough.
Table of Contents
Prepare Your Car
The first thing you need to do if you want to check out your brakes is to make sure you have a clear driveway and plenty of room to work. Next up you will need to jack the vehicle up enough so that you are able to remove your front wheel.
The Brake Discs
Once the front wheel is out of the way you will be able to see your brake disc, otherwise known as a rotor. When you take a look at the brake disc you want to check for any rusting on the disc, any damage in the shape or something else. If the disc seems healthy enough you are most likely fine. It is important to also check your brake fluid at this time using the best brake fluid tester to make sure your brakes are amply lubricated.
The Brake Calliper
Your brake calliper is the component which is blocking your view from seeing the entire brake disc. It is something which you also need to check because of the stability of your vehicle. Make sure that you check if the calliper is hot before you touch it because it will burn you. The trick to checking the calliper is making sure it is securely mounted on the disc. If you can wobble it at all you may need to speak to a professional to clear things up.
Brake Pads
Once you have checked your brake discs and brake calliper, you need to look deeper inside the vehicle for the brake pad. You will be able to see it if you take a look through the inspection hole in your dust shield. The thing to look out for here is the thickness of your brake pad. If the brake pad looks a lot thinner than ones you have seen before in the hardware store, it is time to get them replaced.
Other Checks
If while you are checking the brakes of your vehicle and you notice a few things which need to be replaced, it could be worth taking a look at more parts of the car and get them fixed too. The easiest thing you can check up on is your tyres. Make sure that both the tread and the pressure of your tyres is to a good enough standard, and if not you can get them replaced when you visit the garage. It will also be good practice to do some routine checks and fill ups of the fluid you need throughout the car. You can check you oil level by lifting the dip stick in your bonnet, you can make sure you have enough antifreeze and coolant in your vehicle, and also top up the screenwash to make sure you have the ability to clean your car in the rain.
