Auto Repair

The Toyota Tacoma braking system integrates a four-piston fixed caliper with a large 11-inch rear drum brake application. Although this would assume that such a braking system would be more than...

The brake system on your Ford Mustang requires periodic inspection and maintenance. Unfortunately, it is not until we notice strange smells, noises or mechanical changes coming from a brake...

The brake booster helps you slow down or stop your vehicle safely by multiplying the force you apply to the brake pedal. Without the booster, you would have to step very hard on the pedal and your...

Many would-be mechanics have performed drum brake repairs without the use of specialty tools, such as brake spring tools. A combination of needle-nose pliers, screwdrivers and channel locks can be...

As brake shoes wear down from use, the hydraulic wheel cylinder has to push its pistons out farther in order for the shoes to contact the inner diameter of the drum. When the brake lining of the...

There have been a few minor problems with the parking brake (no longer called an emergency brake) mechanism in the Toyota's Tacoma and Tundra models, which employ similar parking brake systems....

The Mitsubishi Eclipse has been around since 1990. The vehicle features front disc brakes and may feature either rear disc brakes or rear drum brakes, depending on the series of the model. After...

Pontiac produced the Grand Am between 1973 and 2005. The last generation Pontiac Grand Am was the 1999 to 2005 model. This model had a center-console mounted shifter covered by a leather boot. The...

The braking system is one of the most important parts of an automobile. Brakes are integral to vehicle safety as well as performance. Like most vehicle systems, brakes also require occasional...

The revolutionary fifth generation Honda Civic has reached an auspicious (and for some of us, depressing) point in it's life cycle: This VTEC wonder is about to enter the exclusive club of cars...

The brakes are one of the most important systems of a car, both in terms of performance and safety. As they wear down over time, brakes require occasional service, and new brake pads must be...

Light bulbs in a Subaru outback come in two major types. Larger bulbs, like headlights and brake light bulbs, have retaining tabs to hold the bulb into the light housing. Smaller bulbs, used for...

Making its debut in 2003 to replace the Oldsmobile Bravada, the Buick Rainier is a midsize SUV offered by Buick, General Motors' (GM) entry-level luxury brand. It shares the same platform with the...

The brake light switch on the Nissan Altima is responsible for activating the brake lights. Without a functioning switch, the rear brake lights will not light up. For automatic Altimas, the...

The brake light switch on a 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon is behind the brake pedal. The switch is activated when you press on the brake pedal. A plunger in the switch completes an electrical circuit...

The brake light switch on an automobile is responsible for turning on and off the brake lights. Without the switch, the brake lights would not light up, potentially causing a rear-end collision....

Brake springs retain rear brake shoes to the backing plate and their removal requires both finger and hand dexterity. Tools to assist the would-be mechanic are available quite cheaply at almost...

Rear wheel cylinders are the hydraulic braking component for drum brakes. Internal pistons on both sides of the cylinder extend outward from inside the cylinder when demand is placed on the...

The exact type of rear brakes can vary on cars. Some cars have brake calipers and pads like the front wheels, most use brake drums and shoes that work with the parking brake, and others use both....

The Suzuki Swift is a compact car that was manufactured with a hydraulically actuated braking system, which requires routine maintenance. You can easily replace or resurface the friction surfaces...

Launched in 2005 as a 2006 model, the HHR was Chevy's "Hail-Mary" play toward retro-style glory. The base model came equipped with a slightly anemic 143 horsepower 2.2L four cylinder, which...

The Ford Ranger pickup truck is manufactured with a hydraulically actuated disk braking system, which can wear out and require replacement. By replacing or resurfacing the internal components of...

The Chevrolet Silverado uses a self-energizing servo, drum brake system common to most rear-wheel-drive General Motors vehicles. This system is composed of a small primary shoe, a larger secondary...

Anti-lock brakes systems use a series of sensors, valves and solenoids to alter individual wheel brake pressure. Modulating individual pressure allows the vehicle to stop wheel slippage under...

Do you have a KIA Sedona that needs new brake pads? If you said yes then please be aware that the brake shops will charge you around 149 dollars and the dealerships will charge you around 195...

Chevy 2500 pickup trucks, along with the rest of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra truck line, have been subject to periodic recalls from General Motors due to faulty designs, substandard...

The Infiniti G series has been produced intermittently since 1991 by the Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Company. Between 2003 and 2007, the G35 was offered as a two-door coupe to compliment the...

The Suzuki XL 7 midsize SUV was produced from 1998 until 2009. A second generation XL 7 design debuted for 2007 and became Suzuki's first crossover offering. During its 11-year run, the XL 7...

The Saturn Relay marked the first and only time automaker Saturn made an entry into the minivan market. Related to the other minivans of the General Motors (GM) family--the Buick Terraza,...

The disc brake pads on a Mitsubishi Eclipse apply friction to the brake rotor in order to slow the vehicle. The two-door coupe Eclipse has been in production since 1990 and has also been sold as...

Appearing in the United States in 1979, the midsize Mazda 626 was certified by the federal government as a domestic car a decade later. It was placed between Mazda's compact Protege and its...

A brake system is composed of three primary elements: the master cylinder that sends fluid through the lines, the lines themselves, and the slave cylinders (brake calipers) that squeeze on the pad...

Car repairs are extremely expensive with many shops charging labor rates of one hundred dollars per hour so the opportunity exists for you to save a bundle by doing your own car repairs. Brake...

The brake light switch is what activates the brake lights on a Nissan. An audible "clicking" sound can be heard on automatic transmissions when you press on the brake pedal. This is the shifter...

The widespread nature of brake problems in Subaru vehicles of all models and years has prompted considerable concern on the part of owners, dealers and government agencies. While braking issues on...

Removing stubborn brake bolts is tricky since rust and corrosion often set into these types of bolts. Brake dust, road salt (in northern climates or areas near the ocean) and high humidity can all...

The XL7 was a mid-size SUV available from Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation between 1998 and 2009. The vehicle was sold alongside the compact Vitara model. The XL7 was redesigned for the...

The brake switch on a Honda Accord sends an electrical signal to the brake lights. This switch is set to be always "hot." This means that power is constantly flowing to the brake lights, even when...

The Ford Crown Victoria is one of the longest-tenured vehicles in the history of Ford Motor Co. It has featured rear disc brakes since the early 1980s, though the car also has been available with...

The Cordia uses a rear drum braking system that requires routine maintenance to operate properly. The adjustment screw on the bottom of the brake assembly often needs attention and is only...

If your brakes have been squealing and grinding for weeks now, it is time to do a brake job. Not only is it embarrassing but also unsafe to drive a vehicle that needs brakes.

I was looking for instruction on how to change the front brake pads and the rotors on my 12 year old 97 Nissan Sentra GXE. I found some generic instructions and videos. Some of them were not very...

Brake shoes play an important role in the brake system of a vehicle. The brake shoes are necessary to manipulate the brake and cause a vehicle to gradually slow down or stop abruptly for an...

Class C motorhomes are manufactured with hydraulically operated braking systems. The calipers, rotors, drums and shoes of these systems require routine maintenance to perform well. An average...

Brake calipers all work under the same premise. A hydraulic piston extends from the caliper bore when demand is placed on the brakes. The movement of the piston squeezes the friction material of...

The Ducati line of motorcycles are essentially racing motorcycles. These sport bikes are made by Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. The brakes on the Ducati bikes are...

The 2004 Toyota Tacoma was manufactured with a hydraulic braking system, which requires purging of the master cylinder, lines, calipers and wheel cylinders after repairs. This "bleeding" must be...

Repairing Buick brakes involves restoring brake pedal pressure. Low brake fluid level caused by air getting trapped in the lines is the most common problem. Since the system is not air-tight, it...

Most automobiles were manufactured with rear drum brakes during the 20th century, and these braking systems use hydraulically operated shoes to apply friction to the interior of a drum, stopping...

Brake-light problems on the Ford Super Duty are caused by one of a few issues. A faulty fuse, faulty wiring at the housing terminal and a blown bulb are the most common problems. Occasionally, the...