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A Little Rubber Hose--Your Life Depends On It!

by: Tommy Sessions

I won't go into details with this job, but I want
you to think about it.

Your brakes are very important. Your life depend
on them.

When you have to have brakes repaired on your
favorite vehicle, don't skimp.

Sure, it looks like all you need is a set of pads,
or shoes. But, if the pads or shoes are wore out,
what about the other parts?

I don't recommend having the rotors or drums turned.
I know, a lot of technicians will tell you that
you will have better braking if you turn them.

On the small cars with the removable rotors on the
front, I have had some turned, and then I had to
buy the customer a new set of rotors and pads!

For some reason, the little rotors seem to eat the
pads, after you have them turned.

They are not that expensive. Go ahead and replace
them if they are not usable. By that, I mean, if
the pads were down to the metal plate and rubbing
on the rotor.

Another thing to take into consideration is the
rubber line coming from the caliper to the metal
line that goes to the master cylinder.

If your vehicle is several years old, that line is
too.

Those lines tend to deteriorate inside. With the
heat from the outside air, and from the engine, and
the rotor when you apply your brakes, the fluid
gets rather hot.

If you don't replace those two lines on the front
you may have to replace a lot more parts.

The particles from the inside of the hoses will get
into the master cylinder and the caliper.

The master cylinder can cause a major malfunction
and not apply the brakes when you need them. See
the little child playing ball in the street?

If the particles get into the caliper, they can
cause it to "stick" in the outward position.

That could happen, and I've seen it, when you apply
your brake, and release them. Only thing, the
caliper doesn't release.

This causes the piston in the caliper to keep
pressure on the pads against the rotor.

It will cause the vehicle to pull to one side upon
braking. It will burn the pads before their time.
It will probably overheat the rotor and cause it
to crystallize, causing it to loose its braking
power even if you put new pads on it.

It can also cause extreme heat through the system.
Causing the grease in the wheel bearing to melt and
run off the bearings. Then you have a wheel bearing
to go out.

Is a $39 hose worth it?

Replace it the next time you have a major brake
repair.

Have the master cylinder and brake lines flushed,
and new brake fluid added every two or three years.

About the author:
Tommy has been in auto repair since 1970. He publishes
Bad Car Again for people who want to learn about their
favorite vehicle, and about things that do happen at
some repair shops.
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