How do I Adjust the Rear Brakes on a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer

The rear drum brakes on the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer can become unadjusted from normal wear and tear. Since they only account for about 25 percent of the braking power for the SUV, its important to keep the rear brakes adjusted in order to assist the front disk brakes. When the rear brakes become unadjusted, the front brakes take on the brunt of the rear brakes loss of efficiency. This will result in premature wear of the front brakes and can damage front braking components.

Instructions

1

Place a wheel wedge in front of one of the front tire treads and another behind one of the rear tire treads on the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer. Place the SUV in neutral and shut the key off (as far as it will allow).

2

Remove the rear lug nut caps with the lug wrench on both rear tires.

3

Crack the lug nuts loose with the lug wrench by turning them one-quarter turn to the left (counterclockwise).

4

Lift one rear quarter of the Blazer with the jack and then place the quarter onto a jack stand placed under the read axle. Repeat the procedure for the other rear quarter of the Blazer.

5

Remove the lug nuts and tires.

6

Locate the small, black rubber plug located in the bottom of the rear backing plate (behind the drum). Pry off the plug, using the screwdriver if necessary.

7

Shine the flashlight into the brake adjustment port to locate the starwheel and the starwheels holding clip. Get a feel for the position of the clip. It will take two hands to adjust the brakes so holding the flashlight will not be an option.

8

Rotate the drum to get a feel for how free-floating it is.

9

Insert the screwdriver through the brake adjustment port, locate the holding clip and push it away from the starwheel. Hold the clip in this position while taking the brake adjusting spoon and insert that into the port. Turn the starwheel wheel upward to expand the shoes outward or downward to contract the shoe inward. Check the movement of the drum after every three or four turns of the starwheel. A slight drag on the drum is sufficient for properly adjusted rear brake shoes.

10

Replace the plug(s), tires and lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts snug to the hubs and then lower the Blazer.

11

Put the Blazer back into gear and then torque the rear lug nuts in a star pattern to 100 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

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How to Change Rear Brakes on an Avalanche

The rear brakes on the Chevy Avalanche are comprised of a two-piston caliper, disc pads and a brake rotor. The system is very similar to the front brakes on the Avalanche, giving the truck great stopping power and keeping the brake system very balanced. The brakes are easily replaced in the driveway or garage with basic tools, and the pads are readily available at any parts store or the Chevy dealership&039;s parts department.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of your Avalanche and find the brake master cylinder on the firewall. Open the cover and remove three-quarters of the brake fluid using a turkey baster. Replace the cover on the master cylinder and move to the rear of the truck.

2

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a lug wrench but do not remove them completely yet. Raise the rear of the truck with a jack, then position a set of jack stands under the rear axle to support it. Remove the lug nuts and wheels from the truck.

3

Locate the brake caliper mounting bolts and remove them with a socket and ratchet. Lift the caliper off the mounting bracket and support it with a piece of wire off the suspension of frame of the truck. Remove the brake pads from the mounting bracket and discard them.

4

Position a new set of pads in place on the bracket, then install the caliper over them. Install the caliper mounting bolts and torque them to 30 ft-lbs. with a torque wrench. Repeat the process for the opposite side of the truck.

5

Install the tires and lug nuts on the truck, raise it off the jack stands with a jack, remove the stands and set the truck on the ground. Tighten the lug nuts with a lug wrench.

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How to Remove Reinstall Front Disk Brakes From a 1995 One Ton Chevy Truck

It is no more difficult to install new brake pads on the front of a Chevy one-ton truck than on any other Chevy truck, but the parts are a little bigger. For the one-ton truck, the procedure will take about 45 minutes to complete each wheel. Inspect the brake rotors when you change the pads to be sure they are in good condition. There is no sense putting good brake pads on bad rotors -- the brakes will not be as effective, and the pads will wear prematurely.

Instructions

1

Park the Chevy truck on a level surface, and turn off the engine. Place a set of wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Pop open the engine compartment, and locate the brake master cylinder at the back of the engine compartment on the drivers side. Siphon 2/3 of the brake fluid from the cylinder using a turkey baster. Place the fluid in the drain pan to recycle later. Raise the truck with an automobile jack. Place a jack stand under the Chevy near the jacking point. Raise it to the frame of the truck. Remove the lug nuts with a lug wrench, and pull the wheel from the truck.

2

Place the brake caliper between the jaws of a c-clamp, front to back, and twist the c-clamp handle until the piston seats itself inside the caliper housing. Remove the retaining pins from the brake caliper using a socket and ratchet. Pull the caliper away from the wheel assembly, and remove the brake pads from it.

3

Insert new brake pads into the caliper. Place the caliper on the mounting bracket, and tighten the pins with the socket and ratchet. Replace the wheel on the truck. Tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Remove the jack stand from under the Chevy. Lower the truck to the ground. Repeat the process on the other wheel.

4

Add fluid to the master cylinder as needed after the brake job is complete. Pump the brakes several times until the pedal is firm.

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How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes

Proper adjustment of slack adjusters is essential to the functionality of trailer brakes. Slack adjusters compensate for normal wear of break linings. The slack adjuster is an arm attached to a push rod on the brake assembly. Performing a slack adjustment means simply adjusting the push rod in the air chamber to within a predetermined tolerance, thereby maintaining optimal brake performance.

Instructions

How to Adjust Slack Adjusters on Trailer Brakes

1

Before beginning your adjustment, it is important to block the tires to prevent the trailer from moving. The best way to avoid movement is to raise the vehicle on jack stands during the adjustment. Have the brake system at full pressure, lower the emergency brake, and push in the air valve, thereby releasing the brakes. Listen for any air leaks, as they can decrease your braking ability.

Using a piece of chalk, mark the push rod where it leaves the air chamber.

2

Using a screwdriver for leverage, pull the push rod out of the air chamber, and measure from the chalk line to the air chamber. That shows you the "stroke range"; anything more than three-quarters of an inch would mean the brakes need an adjustment.

3

Locate the manual slack adjuster bolt. It connects the s-cam to the air chamber on the axle housing with the push rod. Using the appropriate sized wrench, turn the slack adjuster. Watch the s-cam to see the direction it is moving to ensure you are adjusting it correctly. You can tell you are adjusting it the wrong way if the push rod is pulling out of the air chamber.

Continue tightening until you feel resistance, which means you have drawn the brake linings to the drum.

4

Reverse the slack adjuster one-quarter to one-half of a turn to put a little distance between the drum and the linings.

5

Pressurize the system and apply the brakes using normal pressure. You should have no more than one-tenth of an inch between the brake linings and the drum, and there should be no more that 2 inches of travel in the push rod stroke.

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How to Diagnose Pulling Brakes

When you press on your brakes, you expect to stop in a straight line. However, sometimes when you press your brakes, your call pulls to one side. During bad weather, it can be blamed on road conditions. Sometimes though, it happens during a perfectly nice day. You brake and suddenly the car is pulling left or right, and youre not sure why. You need to diagnose the problem quickly.

Instructions

1

Check the pressure in each of your tires. Each tire should be at the level specified by the illustration on your drivers side door. If the pressure is uneven, it can cause the car to pull when the brakes are applied. Add air if needed.

2

Rule out alignment and steering as your culprits. Drive down a straight road, and take your hands off the steering wheel for a half second. Determine if it drifts to the right or left without hitting the brake. If so, the brakes are not your problem.

3

Jack up the car to examine the calipers. If brakes are your problem, this is the most likely culprit. Take off your tire and wheel. Replace your calipers if there are cracks or pieces missing.

4

Take off the calipers if they seem to be fine. Rarely a defective brake pad or disk can also cause this problem. Replace them if the calipers check out okay.

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What Will Cause Brakes to Smoke

The Problem

You are driving in your car, and begin noticing the telltale odor of smoke. The smell increases, and you see smoke coming from the front or back of your vehicle. This can be a frightening experience, and the culprit is often your cars brake system. Smoking brakes are not uncommon and generally happen for a few simple reasons. If your brakes begin smoking, consider some of the possible causes and rule out the more common possibilities first.

Common Causes

The most common reason for smoking brakes is a stuck caliper. If your cars brake system uses floating calipers, they are designed to slide around to function properly. Calipers sometimes become stuck, locking the brake into place. This creates enormous friction as you drive, creating smoke and a foul odor. Stuck calipers are usually caused by dirt or corrosion that hinder the calipers movement.
The cars wheel cylinder can also become stuck due to dirt or corrosion. A stuck wheel cylinder causes the brake shoes to continue pressing on the drum despite a release of the brake. The brakes will then smoke and emit a bad odor.
Rarely, debris can become lodged in your brake system and cause your brakes to smoke. This situation is easily remedied and does not usually require a trip to the auto mechanic. Simply identify the foreign object and remove it from your brake system.

Solutions

A certified car mechanic can fix a stuck caliper or wheel cylinder on your vehicle. The brakes will no longer smoke, and you will be able to drive your car as always. You should not attempt to fix a stuck wheel cylinder or caliper unless you are a certified auto mechanic, as it is quite easy to do serious damage to your cars brake system.

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How to Change the Brakes on a 1997 Honda Civic DX

The Honda Civic DX coupe has a 1,590cc, 1.6-liter engine, and great fuel economy. With an engine of 106 horsepower and 4 cylinders, this zippy little car is a great middle ground between a stylish and powerful sports car and safe and practical sedan. On every car, no made how well made, over time the brake pads wear out and need replacing. This can cost hundreds of dollars at the local auto shop, but the good news is that just about anyone can change their own brakes on a Civic.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel. To do this, use your tire wrench and turn the lugs 45 degrees counter-clockwise.

2

Jack up the vehicle. To do this, find a support strut. You can use your manual to find the appropriate strut. Lower the car onto the jack stands.

3

Remove all the lug nuts (be sure the car is secure on the jack stands), then pull the wheel off of the wheel hub and set it aside.

4

Remove the caliper mounting bracket. To do this, use your socket wrench to remove the two bolts. Then, after it is removed, tie it to the wheel well with twine to keep it from putting strain on the brake line.

5

Remove the brake pads. Loosen them and pull them free.

6

Compress the caliper. Use your C-clamp to do this.

7

Insert the new brake pads into the caliper assembly, and reinstall the caliper mounting bracket.

8

Put the wheel back onto the hub and tighten the lug nuts with the tire wrench. Lower the car with the jack and finish turning the lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs.

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How Safe Are Your Brakes

You must have seen the villain devilishly clipping the brakes of car used by hero in an action movie, driving him into a nerve-racking ride down the limited-access highway. Quite reverse to this, in real life, the subject of having safe brakes, is not thrilling, but is something indispensable. In case you sense that anything is burning in your car while you are driving it, or may be if you hear a squealing sound while you arrive at a stop, time has come that you check your brakes thoroughly.

Basically there are two chief constituents that affect the safety of the brake:

- Level of the fluid

- Condition of the Brake pad

- At any time the warning light of brake gets on it means that the light has not got on because of some problem in the hand brake. The problem lies somewhere else in the brake. Besides this, level of the brake fluid and the condition of the brake pad should be thoroughly checked at least one time in a year.

Checking the Level of the Brake Fluid:

Go through the manual of the car in order to know the location of the reservoir of the fluid. As soon as you find out the reservoir which is generally marked with the particulars concerning the kind of fluid needs to be used, ensure that the level of the fluid is not less than the "Minimum" line and possibly it reaches the "Maximum" line closely. Besides this, ensure that the fluid appears to be clear with yellowy appearance, if which is not, you might have to change it. Thoroughly check the container of the brake fluid in order to ensure that it does not leak. Apart from this, possibly try to park the car on the slab of cardboard and spout the brake to check if the fluid is leaking or not. Quite reverse to this, if you come across a leak, get a mechanic to check your car immediately and possible try to get the part changed due to which the brake fluid is leaking.

Replacing the Brake Oil:

Pouring in more fluid would resolve problems such as softening of brake pedals, brake warning light getting on, etc. Besides this, it is important that you get the brake fluid changed at least once in a week to ensure that it performs at the optimum level. As per trustmymechanic.com, it is important that you replaced the brake fluid of your car after you cross every 30,000 miles or in case the color of the brake fluid turns dark and dim.

Amidst of all this, when changing fluid comes into the picture, you could clean out the system on your own by getting someone to help you in it, or allow the gravity to bleed the fluid on its own, in case you do not have anyone to help you. Together these systems include jacking the car up, taking away the tires and unscrewing the screws to allow the fluid and the unnecessary air pour out.

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How to Repair the Disc Brakes on a Honda Element

The Honda Element is a compact crossover SUV that entered the U.S. market in 2002. Like most vehicles, the Element uses disc brakes on the front wheels. This is a type of braking system in which the brake pads are attached to a caliper that pushes the pad against the rotor to slow the vehicle down. Your brake pads wear down over time, becoming less effective at slowing your vehicle. In extreme cases, worn-out brake pads can cause your brakes to fail, so replacing them when needed is an important responsibility.

Instructions

1

Park the Element on flat ground and turn off the engine. Make sure it is in "Park" and engage the emergency brake.

2

Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts on the front tires.

3

Jack up the front of the car. Place a jack stand underneath the outer frame on each side, and slowly lower the Element onto the jack stands.

4

Remove the lug nuts from the front tires, and take the tires off the car.

5

Remove the two bolts that hold the brake caliper in place. Lift the caliper off the wheel assembly, taking care not to pull or twist the brake line.

6

Remove the two pad springs that tie the brake pads together.

7

Grab the brake pads and slide them out of the wheel assembly. If you cannot get a grip on them, use a screwdriver to pull them out enough so you can grab them with your fingers.

8

Press the piston back into the rotor. You can use a clamp to do this, or a flat piece of metal such as a screwdriver or pry bar. Do not tear the rubber boot around the piston.

9

Apply brake grease to the anti-squeal plates and place them on the brake pads. The smaller plate goes on the pad with the wear indicator, which is the metal plate that sticks up on one end of the pad.

10

Install the pads onto the wheel assembly in the same position as the old pads you removed. Put the pad with the wear indicator on the back side of the rotor.

11

Install the pad springs by sliding them into the holes on top of the brake pads.

12

Place the brake caliper into position on the wheel hub and secure it with the bolts.

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How to Replace Rear Disc Brakes in a Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry utilizes disc and drum brakes for its stopping power. Many people prefer disc brakes because they are easy to replace and they operate efficiently. Read further to learn how to replace the disc brakes on your vehicle to maintain that stopping power.

Instructions

1

Lift the vehicle from the ground using a car jack. Remove the wheels with a torque wrench and set them aside face up.

2

Unscrew the caliper mounting bolts using the torque wrench. Disconnect the caliper assembly making sure to leave the brake line intact.

3

Remove the old brake pads. Take out the shims, springs, pad wear indicators and pad support plates.

4

Position the new pad support plates onto the torque plate. Place the new pad wear indicators on the new disc brake pads. Verify that the arrow on the indicator plate points in the direction that the wheel rotates.

5

Replace the outer shims on the outside of the brake pad assembly. Insert them into the torque plate.

6

Push the caliper piston back into the bore. Lay the caliper over the pads and fasten it down. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts.

7

Put the wheels back on the Toyota Camry and verify that the brakes operate properly. Replace any necessary brake fluid.

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