The Citizen, 2005-10-27, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2005.
Have braking system checked regularly
(MS) — Imagine cruising down
the highway, when suddenly, a car
darts in front of you and then stops.
Your best bet in preventing you from
ramming this ‘intruder' at highway
speed is to apply your brakes with
\ igour.
But. what if they fail? If you’re
thinking safety, no part of your
vehicle deserves greater attention
than your brakes.
The Car Care Council — a group
dedicated to educating the motoring
public about vehicle maintenance —
recommends that a car's entire
braking system be thoroughly
checked once a year or at every
12.000 miles.
The inspection should include
checking brake lining wear, brake
fluid level, rotor thickness, condition
of hoses and brake lines and brake
warning lights for any signs ol
problems. You can detect warning
signs of brake problems yourself
including brake grabbing, low pedal
feel, hard pedal feel, vibration and
squealing.
WARNING SIGNS OF BRAKE
WEAR
Recognizing the early warning
The
secret to
proper
car care
Most owner manuals for today's
vehicles come with two
maintenance schedules, one for
normal driving conditions and
another lor “severe” conditions.
Which applies to you?
Well, if you live in Canada, you
should follow the severe conditions
maintenance schedule, regardless
ol how you drive your vehicle.
Some people think that the severe-
condition schedule applies only to
"aggressive” drivers, but that’s not
the case.
Car Care Canada reminds people
that the proper maintenance
schedule depends on the
environment in which they drive
their vehicles, not on their habits
behind the wheel.
Severe conditions include the
following:
• Cold weather
• Idling extensively or driving in
stop-and-go traffic
• Driving less than eight kms per
trip; or in freezing temperatures,
driving less than 16 km per trip
• Driving in temperatures over
32°C
• Towing a trailer, driving with a
roof rack, or driving in mountains
• Driving on muddy, dusty, or de
iced roads
Most owner manuals recommend
that Canadian drivers follow the
maintenance schedule lor severe
conditions (which was developed
by automotive engineers). By
maintaining your vehicle according
to this schedule, you'll help keep
your driving trouble-free while
preserving the longevity ol your
vehicle, not to mention enhancing
its resale value.
For more lips on sale winter
driving visit Car Care Canada's
website at wwwcarcaiecanada.ca
signs of impending brake failure is
critical. For example, "any out of the
ordinary sound coming from the
brakes can be one of the leading
indicators that there is a problem,”
saus Jack McGrail. product manager
for a leading supplier of brake and
other components vehicle
manufacturers and the aftermarket.
“Look out especially for a grinding
noise."
Other signs include an increase or
decrease in brake dust or small metal
flakes on the wheels, the car pulling
to the left or right or the front end of
the vehicle shaking when applying
the brakes, or, the brakes feel 'soft.'
HOW TO ENSURE SAFE
BRAKING
"Within the brake system, most of
us know that what stops the vehicle
are brake pads or brake linings
applying pressure against spinning
brake rotors or drums." says
McGrail. "The pads in today's
vehicles do most of the braking, and
what they are made of and how they
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To keep your car running at top performance, change
your oil every 5,000 km or every three months.
BRUSSELS AUTO COLLISION
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COMPLETE AAJTO BODY REPAIR AND REFINISHING
It's that time of year to
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Oil Undercoating
Includes oil, oil filter,
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vehicle inspection, includes
brakes, steering,
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arc constructed are very important
— not all brake pads are created
equal."
"Materials, formulas, design and
craftsmanship can differ
dramatically from one pad to
another, and over lime, greatly
influence how well the vehicle stops.
Premium brake pads are
manufactured from vehicle specific,
specially-formulated friction
materials that deliver exceptional,
■premium' stopping power over a
long service life," McGrail says.
Depending on the make and model
of your vehicles, you can select
between ceramic or premium
technology brake pads. Ceramic
pads, which feature tiny flecks ol
ceramic material embedded in the
friction material, offer a luxurious
feel, superior braking power and arc
generally preferred by vehicle
owners who arc looking for smooth,
quiet, powerful braking. Premium
technology brake pads, on the other
hand, are designed for hardworking
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vehicles such as trucks, mini-vans
and sports cars and are best suited
for aggressive driving styles and
towing applications.
"Brake pads and rotors are not
commodity items.” McGrail says.
"Well-engineered, premium
technology brake pads and rotors
promise safe braking every time you
hit the pedal for tens of thousands of
miles.”
The brakes are your vehicle's most
important safety feature. A complete
and thorough check should cover
every aspect of the system from the
master cylinder to the calipers and
wheel cylinders. Simply replacing
the brake pads and nothing else will
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only invite trouble down the road.
For instance, disc brake pads require
a perfectly clean, smooth and fine
flat surface on the rotors to function
at their best.
All rotors, like pads, are not equal
either. If it is necessary to replace the
rotors to ensure the proper surface,
always replace them in pairs, and
make sure they are top quality and
designed for the vehicle they are
being installed on. Premium brake
rotors prevent pedal vibration, rotor
warping and brake noise. Precision
machining and vehicle specific
cooling vanes maximize cooling,
minimize vibration and provide a
long service life.
Licenced
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