I have never been one to do my own automotive repair. I had always wanted to learn, but was timid about even approaching the hood of my car. Cars seemed mysterious, the engines just looked like a large puzzle that would have been too difficult to understand. I have learned the hard way, that many car maintenance procedures can be done at home, saving money and aggravation as well as larger problems that are caused down the road.
One such lesson had to do with the brakes of my Honda Accord. They had been squeaking for a bit, and once I moved to Los Angeles–they began not only squeaking, but grinding as well. By the time I took the car to the shop, the rotors were destroyed and what I could have been taking care of myself I ended up spending close to one thousand dollars to fix. Brakes are the most important safety feature on one’s car or motor cycle. Manuals which can be purchased at any auto shop make the process of checking brakes and brake pads very simple. It just takes a little bit of muscle and a little bit of time. Taking a look at your brakes two times a year will ensure that the normal wear and tear will not reach dangerous and expensive to fix levels. Most times on current models of vehicles, it is not even necessary to remove the wheel of your car.
It is necessary though that you do have clear sight and are able to see the metal disc–which is the rotor, and the brake shoes themselves. Normal wear is evident on the rotor in the form of small lines, what is not normal is uneven wear or a dullness to the disc. With the brake shoes, if they are less than an eighth of an inch thick, it is time to replace them. Should the pads need replacing, they are inexpensive and easy to do at home. Once I learned that I was able to this, I deciding that there was nothing scary about my Honda’s small engine. Repair manuals now take up space on my bookshelf, and I know that, at least the small stuff, I can take of myself.
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