Brakes don’t fail me now

I got an instant email off the recent column that I wrote about squeaky brakes in a car that was left in the garage for two months. The reader, who owns a subcompact car, is asking if it’s okay to drive his car with slightly stuck brakes at the rear.

He said he knew about the problem when he felt his car was heavy to drive and one of his car’s rear wheels would smell like burnt paint after each drive. He also added that the wheel would be as hot as a kettle after each run. He said it’s hard to find service because its still ECQ in Cebu City.

First of all, this doesn’t look like your rear brakes are slightly stuck. It looks like it’s heavily jammed and the only reason why the wheels are still rotating is basically because you are overpowering it with the engine. The smell and the heat only adds to the signs that your brakes are heavily stuck.

If it’s a sub compact car, then I would guess the rear brakes are the drum-type ones.  These types of brakes are basically very easy to service if you know the inner workings of the parts. The main culprit will have to be corrosion as it seldom gets stuck with just brake dust or the regular wear and tear. If you’re not too confident with your DIY skills, then I’m afraid you’ll have to park your car until service is available. In case you decide on doing it yourself, there are a lot of tutorials in Youtube to guide you. Do note that the proper tools are essential.

Here are some signs to lookout for if you feel that one or more of your brakes are jammed or stuck:

A major sign of a stuck brake system is if the vehicle pulls to one side when braking or while driving. If you feel like you have to fight the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in a straight line, that’s a sign.

The smell of burnt paint or burning hair coming from the wheels is also a common sign of jammed brakes.

Excessive heat coming off the wheels after the vehicle has been driven is also a symptom. If you suspect your brakes are stuck, at the end of your errand, park the car, turn off the engine and do this test. Place your hand NEAR the wheel (don’t touchit), and see if you can feel heat. If the area near your wheel is excessively hot, you may have stuck brakes. Another way is to splash the wheel with a small amount of water and see if it evaporates instantly. Note that it is important not to touch the wheelsas it might cause severe burns.

In disc type brakes, one cause for a stuck caliper (the part that clamps on the disc when you brake) is if the brake pads are stuck with debris as these build up in between the spaces. If this happens, the pads will not be able to move in to clamp and out to release, causing the brakes to stick. This will be noisy, warning you that your brakes are stuck. A trusted mechanic will be able to clean the brake padsand calipers, or replace partsif needed.

Another cause for a stuck caliper is corrosion. If the piston rubber caps wear out, or the piston or caliper bore gets corroded, the brake fluid will not be able to return to the master cylinder causing your car’s brakes to stick. This problem is difficult to spot and needs to be diagnosed by a mechanic. If diagnosed, corresponding replacement parts might be required.

To keep your calipers in good working condition, follow the service manual religiously.  Have your brake pads replaced as scheduled and keep your brake fluid clean and topped off. Brake Calipers should last the life of your vehicle if you have it serviced on a regular basis.

Driving with stuck brakes can be difficult and costly. Now that we are in MECQ, its best to find a reputable service center to have your brakes checked. Don’t compromise your safety on the road or let small issues turn into more significant repairs later.