5 easy ways you can inspect your brakes (without tools)

When it comes to car maintenance, we often give more emphasis on the car’s engine and transmission. After all, most of our visits to the local service centre are either to change the engine oil or the transmission fluid. While the engine and transmission are important to move the car, brakes are equally important to stop the car. So how do we take care of them?

Sometimes you may hear funny noises coming from your brakes, but don’t really know what they mean. Should you get your brake pads replaced? Is it time to get the brake fluid changed? Is your car running low on blinker fluid? Well, you never really know until you have a look.

With garage-less houses, Malaysian car owners aren’t exactly the DIY type. Very few car owners own a complete tool box, let alone a floor jack and a set of jack stands. Some of us, at best, buy RM20 socket sets from Lazada. Although mainly lacking in car repair knowledge, there are some easy inspections we can do to check the condition of the brakes on our cars.

Let’s go over 5 simple things you can check…

1. Brake Disc and Disc Pads

Let’s start with the most obvious components – the disc and pads. 

How do you check the brake disc and pads?

Visual and sound inspection.

Have a look at your brake discs. Visual inspection is not entirely accurate, but it helps. Brake discs with uneven “vinyl record”-like grooves NEED REPLACING. The same goes for brake discs with cracks. The accurate way to check the condition of the brake discs is to measure the thickness, but that requires taking the wheel off, so never mind.

Next, have a look at the brake pads. Brake pads that are too thin NEED REPLACING. Brake pads are usually equipped with a wear indicator that makes a loud squealing noise to alert you that they need replacing.

Here’s a video so you know what it sounds like (time stamp 0:32):

More expensive cars are usually equipped with brake pad wear sensors that alert you when the brake pads need to be checked. Just look out for the warning symbols. You can extend the life of your brake pads and disc by practising the correct method of engine braking.

Is there periodic maintenance for it?
Owner manuals usually suggest you get them checked every 20,000 km.

2. Brake Drums

Drum brakes have a closed design which make them a little bit harder to inspect visually. Like disc brakes, the drum and shoe thin out. Since they’re used in the rear, they generally last longer than the front disc brakes.

The closed design of the drum traps dust and potentially traps water. Although clean on the outside, it usually is very dusty on the inside. The trapping of water could lead to rust, which is bad.

Drum brakes rely on springs to keep a gap between the brake shoe and the brake drum. Over time, the springs become less effective and the gap may get smaller, leading to unwanted rubbing between the shoe and drum.

How do you check your drum brakes?

Sound inspection. You don’t need tools for this. Listen for scraping sounds when braking. A worn-out show will create an unpleasant sound. Here’s a video to show you what it sounds like (time stamp 0:08):

You could also test the strength of the parking brake on a hill but we wouldn’t recommend that for the average car owner. Just take it to your nearest service centre for an inspection.

Is there periodic maintenance?

Like disc brakes, owner manuals usually suggest to get them checked every 20,000 km.

3. Brake Pedal

The brake pedal, front brakes, and disc brakes are connected through a hydraulic system. When you press the break pedal, the hydraulic fluid transmits that force to all 4 brakes on the car.

How to check your brake pedals?

You can check for:

1. Free play (how much you can press the pedals before the brakes engage) Too much free play is bad.

2. Reserve travel (how much room there is left between the pedal and the floor when fully pressed). Too little reserve travel is bad.

3. Tightness (how tight the brake pedal feels when pressed). Loose brakes are a sign of air in the hydraulic system.

4. Rattle (Does the pedal rattle when you press the brakes?). Rattling brake pedals are a sign of uneven brake rotors.

4. Brake fluid

The braking system of a car is hydraulic. That means it needs fluid to operate. Brake fluids are usually DOT 3, DOT 4, or DOT 5. DOT stands for Department of Transport. DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5 are grades of the fluid. Refer to your owner’s manual regarding which grade you should use.

How do you check your brake fluid?

Without tools, you can at least check the brake fluid level in the engine bay. Make sure the fluid level is somewhere between the maximum and minimum mark. If you notice a drop in your brake fluid levels, it is usually a sign of leakage in the braking system.

It is recommended that the brake fluids are changed every 40,000 km.

5. Brake Lights

With your braking system working perfectly, it also important to alert other drivers when you are braking.

How to check your brake lights?

You will need a friend to help you with this. Have your friend press and release the brake pedals while you inspect the brake lights. Make sure the brake lights work with the headlights turned on and turned off.

Older cars like Proton Persona (CM) tend to have some issues with the tail light connector, so make sure you check that they are in perfect working order. You don’t want to get rear-ended just because your brake lights didn’t work.

So, there you have it - 5 easy inspections you can do to make sure your car brakes are working fine.

A well-maintained braking system could save a life, or more. Always keep them in check. If in doubt, always consult an expert before taking further action.