DIY Brakes
Have you thought about taking DIY brakes route and fixing them yourself? If you’re handy and want to save some cash, you can definitely do your own brake repair. And depending on the problem and your level of experience, you’re looking at savings hundreds of dollars without necessarily spending huge amounts of time.
Common Problems
If you’re thinking about a DIY brakes project, take a look at the list below. Chances are you’re having one of these brake problems:
- Brakes are squeaking and/or clunking
- Brake pedal goes too far down or to the floor
- Brake pedal’s too firm
- Brakes are weak and/or the pedal feels “squishy”
- Brake pedal vibrates when stopping
- Brakes pull the car to one side
- Brakes aren’t as responsive as they should be
What to do
All of these problems can be serious, but two of the most common causes are fairly easy fixes.
1. You may need to replace brake pads and the hardware that holds them in place.
2. You may need to drain the brake line and replace the brake fluid.
Before you start doing anything, look below for a plan of attack.
1. Click on our Diagnose Tab to read more about common brake problems and possible underlying causes.
2. If you think you know what the problem is, watch a few how-to brake videos. Here are some of our favorites from YouTube.