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Brake pad diagnosis is an important skill for any car owner. Being able to tell when you're brake pads need to be replaced or other work is required in your brake system is valuable automotive information.

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Since brake pad maintenance is required on vehicles every 25,000 to 50,000 miles, this would mean that each vehicle owner might do as many as three to five brake jobs during the vehicle's life span.

In my last post I talked about a brake pulsation that was caused by warped rotors. In this post I will discuss brake pads, and how to tell when it's time to replace them.

Brake pad diagnosis

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There are several different types of brake pads as well as different types of wear indicators. let's start off with the brake pad assembly itself. Brake pads are metal plates with the linings either riveted or bonded to them.

Brake pads are located at each side of the caliper and sandwich the rotor much like the ones on a 10-speed bike. The inner brake pad, which is positioned against the caliper piston, is not interchangeable with the outer brake pad.

The linings themselves are made of a semi-metallic or other non-asbestos material. Ceramic is becomming more popular due to longer life and less brake dust created when they wear.
 
Brake surging 05/17/2009
 

This brake surging problem is one of the common auto repairs questions I receive often. See what it took to solve this issue on a 1997 Lincoln Town Car.

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Dave writes in about a brake pulse: Hi Mark, David here: I have problem with mothers Lincoln 97 town car that has a brake surge. I turned the rotors a while back and new pads installed also about 2 months ago.

When we go to brake the car surges on and off, can’t explain it. It feels like it hesitates, but we stop fine. I took off the front tires and checked the rotors and shoes. The rotors were smooth with no bluing and plenty of shoes remaining.

I don't have an idea what the brake pulse is all about? Could there be air in lines causing this surging or what? Is the booster going bad? Maybe the calipers are hanging up? Should I try relubricating the caliper slides? They have not been greased since the front pad replacement.

Let me know what you think. I do not feel it at the brake pedal as the pedal does not jump. It feels like something is out of round. This is the best I can explain without you driving the car. But again the car stops fine. More brake surge action happens at higher speeds it seems, but we stop fine.

Thanks from David
 
 

Another common auto repairs question would be about the replacement of a Chevrolet fuel pump. Here is a question and answer submitted recently from a visitor.

Chevrolet fuel pump replacement

Hey Mark I have a Chevrolet fuel pump question for you. I have a 1997 Chevrolet Lumina four door sedan.  It has only 85k miles on it.  The body is in fairly good shape, but it has given me much trouble. Last Thursday it cranked but would not start, when I tried to leave a doctor's office about 10 miles from home.  

I had it towed to a auto repair shop. They replaced the in-tank fuel pump and fuel filter.  The cost was $833.  The delco pump alone was $499.  When I priced a replacement pump at Advanced Auto parts, it was $292.  There is real savings in do it yourself auto repair.

My lovely wife was furious. She's Irish, and gets furious often.

 
 

Taurus coolant leaks are very common on the 1996 and 1997 Ford Taurus. This was the first 2 years of the newer bubble body style. Here is a question I fielded about 96 Taurus coolant leaks. 

Mark a common auto repairs question for you. I have a 96 Ford Taurus with a slow coolant leak. The engine is dry and I smell some coolant when I put on the air conditioning. Is it the heater core leaking? Also note that this 96 Taurus has problems with brown coolant since we got it used some time ago. We have flushed the coolant system very often until the brown was gone.

Thanks Ken

Hello Kenneth : Yes the 96 and 97 Taurus had there issues with coolant system problems. It sounds like you did a good job trying to keep it at bay with your frequent flushes. But if it was contaminated at one time it most likely weakened the heater core.

If this is the original heater core this would most likely be your problem. Yes the heater core is a huge job on that model. You have to take the dash loose from the firewall I believe.

A head-gasket is also possible but with the amount of coolant your loosing you should be able to see signs of coolant in the oil, if it was leaking in the engine. Milkshake looking deposits on the oil fill cap would be a tell tail sign as well as elevated oil fill level.