How can I tell if my rear brake is a problem?

How can I tell if my rear brake is a problem?

To determine if your rear brakes are the problem, you need to test them in isolation. One way to test your rear drum brakes is to apply the parking brake slightly while driving, because the parking brake uses the drum brakes in the rear.

What causes rear drum brakes to engage too soon?

If the parking brake system is not de-adjusted properly before the brake shoes are adjusted it will cause the rear brakes to engage too soon. This is especially true of vehicles equipped with duo-servo rear drum brakes (see Figure 61.1).

Why do you need return springs for rear brakes?

Rear brake hardware plays an important part in proper rear brake operation (See Figure 61.5). Many people think of return springs as only a way to release the brakes but in reality they also determine when the rear brakes are going to apply. A weak return spring will allow the brakes to engage too soon.

Can a brake leak affect both front and rear brakes?

That way, if there is a leak in one part of the system, it should only affect one front brake and one rear brake. If this is what is going on, you need to identify and replace the faulty part.

To determine if your rear brakes are the problem, you need to test them in isolation. One way to test your rear drum brakes is to apply the parking brake slightly while driving, because the parking brake uses the drum brakes in the rear.

If the parking brake system is not de-adjusted properly before the brake shoes are adjusted it will cause the rear brakes to engage too soon. This is especially true of vehicles equipped with duo-servo rear drum brakes (see Figure 61.1).

Rear brake hardware plays an important part in proper rear brake operation (See Figure 61.5). Many people think of return springs as only a way to release the brakes but in reality they also determine when the rear brakes are going to apply. A weak return spring will allow the brakes to engage too soon.

Why do rear disc brakes make a noise?

The master cylinder sends pressurized fluid through the brake lines. If you have rear drum brakes, the fluid causes the actuator to push the brake shoes outward, where they press against the inside of the drum. In the case of rear disc brakes, the fluid activates the caliper, which then squeezes the caliper between two brake pads.