How to Replace a Parking Brake Switch

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Parking Brake Switch . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Screwdriver
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Parking Brake Light Switch

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $87.38 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $166.35 parts and labor

Instructions:

  • Look for the parking brake switch. For foot style parking brakes, you can find it positioned under the dash or on the back of the lever. For hand style parking brakes, the can be located on or below the lever under the center console assembly.
  • Here we will discuss the replacement procedure for hand style parking brake. Take the center console assembly away by removing the bolts.
  • Disconnect the wiring connections from the parking brake switch.
  • Remove the switch from the brake lever by removing the bolts or clips.
  • Replace the old switch with new one.
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How to Replace a Parking Brake Cable

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Parking Brake Cable . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Floor Jack
  • Screwdriver
  • Breaker Bar
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Jack Stand Set
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Parking Brake Cable

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $58.15 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $250.44 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Park the vehicle on the level surface and push back the parking brake lever to activate the brake.
  • Put the transmission in drive and ease the brake pedal.
  • Now, turn the parking brake lever into free position.
  • Discard the rear parking brake cable and the front parking brake cable from the equalizer bar.
  • Get underneath the parking brake control assembly and disconnect the front cable from the pivot hole.
  • Lift up the vehicle with the help of floor jacks and secure the vehicle on jack stands.
  • Unbolt the lug nuts and take the wheels away.
  • Take the brake drum away from the hub. Also, discard the disc brake and caliper from the rear brake assembly.
  • Locate the parking cable attached to the brake shoe on the wheel side of the backing plate and discard it.
  • Grab and draw out the cable.
  • Take a new parking brake cable and replace it with the old one.
  • Insert the rear cable via the backing plate and connect it to the parking brake lever.
  • Reinstall the brake drum and disc assembly back to their positions.
  • Put the wheels back and secure them with lug nuts.
  • Remove the jack stands and ground the vehicle by lowering the floor jack.
  • Carefully attach the rear cables to the equalizer.
  • Now, attach the front cable to the parking brake control assemble and eventually to the equalizer.
  • Take the pin off from the parking brake assembly to ease the tension.
  • In the end, apply and release the parking brake for some time to ensure that the cable gain the required tension.
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How to Replace a Brake Booster

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Brake Booster . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Combination Wrench Set
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Flare Nut Wrench
  • Flat Head Screwdriver
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Brake Booster
  • Brake Fluid

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $438.60 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $685.17 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • With engine still off, depress the brake pedal several times in order to ease the vacuum of brake booster.
  • Now depress and hold the brake pedal and switch the engine on. Observe carefully that either the brake pedal descends or not.
  • Discard the vacuum hose from the brake booster.
  • Disconnect the brake lines from the brake master cylinder. Disconnect the master cylinder from the brake booster. Put stopper onto the lines or fittings to avoid dripping of fluid.
  • Detach the brake pedal from push rod.
  • Told the assistant to hold the brake booster and in a mean while you unbolt the nuts holding the brake booster to the firewall. You can access the nuts from under the dash on the interior of the firewall.
  • Take the brake booster away.
  • Assemble a new brake booster in place of the old one and secure it to the firewall with nuts.
  • Reattach the push rod to the brake pedal. Also, reattach the vacuum hose to the brake booster.
  • Fix the master cylinder to the new brake booster and rejoin the brake lines.
  • In the end, bleed the brakes to finish the repair work.
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How to Replace an ABS Control Unit

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace an ABS Control Unit . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $0.00 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $142.29 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Look for the OBD connection for your vehicle.
  • Put the ignition key to ON position and connect the scan tool to the OBD connection.
  • Take record of all the trouble codes and take help from owner’s manual for an index of trouble codes. This will help you rectify the problem well.
  • Detach the vehicle’s negative battery cable from terminal.
  • In the engine compartment, look for the ABS control module on the driver’s side.
  • Detach the wiring connections from the ABS control module.
  • Using an appropriate tool, take the mounting bolts off holding the ABS control module in position.
  • Replace damaged module with the new module.
  • Reattach the wiring connections to the new ABS control module.
  • Reattach the negative battery cable back onto the terminal.
  • Take a small drive and check whether the new ABS control module is working properly or not.
  • Make sure that all the trouble codes are rectified.
  • Switch off the engine. Turn ignition key to ON position and check with scan tool again to verify that all trouble codes are resolved.

Yips & Warning

  • Don’t forget to use Person Protective Equipment (PPE) before starting any kind of repair work. Protective clothing like safety goggles, latex gloves, or closed toe shoes help prevent injuries.
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How to Lubricate a Brake Pedal Linkage

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Lubricate a Brake Pedal Linkage . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Spray Can of Lubricant(White LIthium Grease)

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $0.00 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $63.24 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Look for the brake pedal assembly and linkage.
  • Observe the linkage for noise and binding while depressing the brake pedal.
  • Take white lithium grease and apply a coat of it on the brake linkage pivot points while brake pedal is still depressed.
  • Depress and release the brake pedal for twice or thrice to make sure its working properly now.
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How to Replace a Brake Pedal Return Spring

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Brake Pedal Return Spring . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Brake Pedal Return Spring
  • Needle Nose Pliers

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $12.96 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $78.53 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Look for the brake pedal return spring.
  • Depress the brake pedal and examine the brake pedal return spring closely.
  • Take the brake pedal return spring out with the help of a pair of needle nose pliers.
  • Insert a new brake pedal return spring in its place.
  • Again depress the brake pedal and examine the working of the new brake pedal return spring. Make sure that the new spring pushes the pedal back to its position completely and easily.
  • Take a small drive and check the brake pedal working.
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How to Replace a Brake Light Switch

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Brake Light Switch . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Combination Wrench Set
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Brake Light Switch

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $23.20 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $90.62 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Make sure that the ignition key is in ON position.
  • Switch on the headlights by turning the headlight switch to on.
  • Depress the brake pedal and told your assistant to examine whether the brake headlights turn on or not.
  • If lights don’t turn on, look for the light switch somewhere around the brake pedal linkage. Make sure that the current is passing through the switch.
  • Detach the wiring harness from the brake pedal switch.
  • Discard the brake pedal switch from the brake pedal linkage.
  • Take the old switch out and install a new switch in place of it.
  • Reattach the wiring harness to the brake pedal switch.
  • Again depress the brake pedal and told your assistant to check the lights on the back.
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How to Replace Brake Shoes

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace Brake Shoes . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Screwdriver
  • Mallet Hammer
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Standard Wrench Set
  • 1/2 in. Drive Ratchet
  • 3/8 in. Drive Torque Wrench
  • Brake Shoe Set

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $67.54 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $182.47 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Park the vehicle on a flat surface.
  • Loosen the lug nuts but keep them in place.
  • Raise the vehicle with the help of floor jack and support the vehicle on jack stands. Floor jack alone is not enough to ensure your safety.
  • Take the lug nuts way and discard the wheels from the vehicle.
  • Discard the brake drum and if required, pull out the star wheel adjuster as well.
  • Using a spray bottle filled with a solution of water and detergent, clean the brake assembly. Never use compressed air for cleaning the brakes. Examine carefully whether the brake shoes are damaged or not.
  • Discard the primary and secondary brake shoe return spring from the anchor pin and brake shoes.
  • Disconnect the adjuster cable and spring assembly. Unfasten the star adjuster screw and thread the adjuster completely in it.
  • Discard the front brake shoe retainer, parking brake linkage and also front brake shoe.
  • 10. Next, you need to discard the parking brake lever from the rear brake shoe. Also, discard the rear brake shoe retainer and rear brake shoe as well.
  • Lubricate the backing plate contact points with white lithium grease.
  • Now you are ready to install the new brake shoe by reversing the entire process. Make sure that during installation new brake shoe remains clean.
  • Reassemble the brake drum and adjust the brake shoe as required.
  • Put the wheels back and secure them with lug nuts.
  • Remove the jack stands and lower the jack. Take a small drive to confirm the repair work.
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How to Replace a Brake Drum

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Replace a Brake Drum . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Floor Jack
  • Combination Wrench Set
  • Mallet Hammer
  • Socket and Ratchet Set
  • Jack Stand Set
  • Flat Head Screwdriver
  • 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet
  • Brake Drum

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $123.32 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $248.29 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Secure the vehicle on a flat surface.
  • Before lifting the rear of the vehicle with floor jack, lock the front wheels with wedge or wooden block so that when you lift the rear part, the vehicle will not move.
  • Break loose the rear wheel lug nuts but leave them in place.
  • Now, raise the rear of the vehicle with floor jack and support the vehicle with jack stands.
  • Take the lug nuts out and discard the wheels.
  • Make certain the parking brake is not active. Take the brake drum out by pulling. If the drum is damaged, you may need to remove the star wheel adjuster as well.
  • Wipe off any debris or dirt from the surface of the drum and brake assembly. If brake drum is damaged and show signs of cracks, grooves or scoring, replace it with new one.
  • Examine other components of the brake drum and also the brake shoe linings for any damage or wear and tear.
  • Using brake cleaner, clean the new brake drum thoroughly. Put start wheel adjuster in a perfect position to allow the new brake drum settle properly in its place.
  • Adjust the brake shoes with the help of a screwdriver. Put the screwdriver into the slot and spin the star wheel adjuster for adjustments.
  • Put the wheels back and secure them properly with lug nuts.
  • Remove the jack stands and ground the vehicle by lowering the jack. Take a small drive to make sure that repair work is successful.
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How to Perform a Brake Safety Inspection

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Alvin Martin

Below guide will teach you How to Perform a Brake Safety Inspection . Please follow the instructions carefully.

Things You’ll Need:

  • Flashlight
  • Floor Jack
  • Jack Stand Set
  • 1/2 in. Drive Socket Set
  • 1/2 in. Drive Torque Wrench

Estimated Costs:

  • DIY Costs: Est. $0.00 parts only
  • Shop Costs: Est. $94.86 parts and labor

Image may not be specific to your car

Instructions:

  • Take a small drive to make certain that if brakes are working properly or not. If at any time you feel that vehicles isn’t stopping smoothly or pull to either of the side then your brakes require some sort of attention.
  • Park the vehicle on a level surface to check the level of the brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. Make sure that the brake fluid is clear and up to the re quire level, i.e. up to the ‘MAX’ or in between ‘MIN’ or ‘MAX’ marks.
  • The inspection of the brake should be performed for all the four wheels. So loosen the lug nuts of all the wheels.
  • First raise the front of the vehicle with floor jack and secure it on jack stands. Then, raise the rear of the vehicle and secure it also on jack stands.
  • Take lug nuts of all the wheels off and take out the wheels as well.
  • In some vehicles, you need to take away the rear brake drums. Examine the rotors and drums for any signs of damage like scoring, grooves or discoloration. Any of such damage requires replacement.
  • Also, observe the brake linings for any possible damage or contamination. If the linings are damaged or show contamination, replace them.
  • Next, observe the brake calipers for any signs of binding, rust or uneven pad damage. If there is any such damage, replace it.
  • Also, examine the master, cylinder, hoses, lines and wheel cylinders to ensure that there is no leakage in them.
  • It is essential to replace the damaged or worn components immediately as it is crucial for your safety.
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