Braking news

Take the time to make sure of your vehicle’s brakes.

The brakes on any 4WD are required to work harder than possibly any other road-going vehicle. They have to work in heat and cold, mud and dust, water crossing and deep bogs.

For many owners, summer is adventure time. Take a 1.7-2 tonne vehicle, fill it with up to 750 kg of gear, add four people and maybe then bolt a boat or caravan on behind and the punishment increases massively.

Some of the issues faced are:

• Thinning brake rotors. It’s common to give discs a grind to bring them ‘true’ when they’ve done a bit of work. But workshops will always measure minimum thicknesses, because a thin disc is prone to warping and not as resistant to heat build-up in heavy braking. If in doubt, replace the rotors.

• Ribbed or worn brake pads. They operate in an environment that is often basically grinding paste. Brake pads should always be replaced when disc rotors are given a grind or replaced with fresh metal. Fresh pad to fresh disc surface ensures best performance.

• Torn or perished cylinder seals. The outer seal is designed to keep filth off the piston surface; the inner is designed to keep brake fluid where it should be. Any brake check-over or work is also a chance to look for fluid leaks.

• Contaminated brake fluid. Dirt, water, rust all shorten the life of the braking system. Owners of 4WDs should never be sparing with the fresh fluid when brakes are checked. Bleed through the system thoroughly to remove contaminants and get back that as-new firm brake pedal.

Doing it DIY is good if people are mechanically inclined; otherwise trust it to a good workshop to ensure these tips are followed.