How Long Should a Brake Job Last?
The Pressure Is On With New Customer Expectations
BRAKE JOB: 1996-2005 Honda Civic
The 6th or 7th generation Honda Civic is one of the most common cars on the roads. While you have probably performed numerous brake jobs on Civics, there are some failures and problems that may sneak up on you.
Brake Job On 2006-Current Cadillac DTS
The 2006-current Cadillac DTS is the largest sedan that General Motors offers. The DTS incorporates the K-platform as denoted by the 4th letter in the VIN. It is built on the same line as the Buick Lucerne. The two vehicles share many brake components, but option packaging is different for the Lucerne.
Brake Job: 2000-2007 Ford Focus
The 2000-2007 Ford Focus is based on the Ford global C1 platform, shared with the European Ford Focus and Volvo S40. Nothing is really groundbreaking about the brake system. However, not paying attention to the details can end in a post brake job comeback.
Brake Job on 2000-2006 Honda Insight
The Honda Insight might be a rare bird when compared to the Civic or Accord, but they are like all vehicles in that they wear out brake pads, shoes and rotors. Servicing the brakes on the Insight does not require dealing with the high voltage hybrid system.
The Insight has a conventional brake system
Performing a Brake Job on a 2005-2010 Toyota Scion TC
The replacement of the pads and rotors on a Toyota Scion TC is straightforward, but there are some things that you should know before you start. This car is designed for ceramic friction material formulations. If everything is operating correctly, it is not uncommon for a set of rotors to last three sets of ceramic pads. Toyota even recommends not machining the rotors if the rotors are within specifications for thickness, thickness variation and runout.
Brake Job: 2011-Newer Buick Regal
There are two brake packages for the Buick Regal. Base models have a single-piston caliper in the front. High-performance models (GS) use the J64 brake package that uses a twin-piston caliper in the front and a different pad. The ABS/ESC system also has a different calibration.
Brake Job on 2000-2006 Hyundai Elantra
The initial inspection revealed the front rotors were below specifications and had uneven pad wear on the right front inboard pad. The rear drums were also out of specification and a leaking wheel cylinder had contaminated the brake shoes. Hyundai recommends replacement of the wheel cylinders if any brake fluid is found in the dust boots. Runout measurements of the rotors and hubs revealed little or zero runout.
BRAKE JOB: 2004-2009 Mazda3
The 2004-2009 Mazda3 is based on the Ford global C1 platform, shared with the European Ford Focus and Volvo S40. Nothing is really groundbreaking about the brake system. But, not paying attention to the details can end in a post brake job comeback.
Performing a Brake Job on a 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is based on the GMT 360. The brake system on the Trailblazer is not groundbreaking by any means, but there are some intricacies technicians should be aware of on this common platform. The front brakes utilize dual piston calipers with phenolic pistons. The most important thing to remember when replacing the pads on this vehicle is to replace the hardware.