Repair And Fix it

Brake pistons, or caliper pistons, are the part of the caliper that physically pushes the brake pads against the rotor when the brake pedal is pressed. This piston must be pressed into the caliper when replacing brake pads to make clearance for the new pads. There are several different tools used to press this piston in, depending on the style of piston system used: no push-back, dual pistons or standard.

C-Clamp

The C-clamp is one or the more basic tools and the most common tool used on caliper pistons. This tool has a fixed side that is placed on the caliper body and a screw side that is placed on the piston. The user tightens the screw side of the clamp and it slowly presses the piston into the caliper. This tool is used on a standard piston system, which is what a vast majority of vehicles use on the front brake system.

Dual Piston Press

The dual piston press is used on vehicles that have a dual piston system. Typically, these systems are reserved for high-performance vehicles. This tool has two plates, they are placed in the caliper just like brake pads. The user then tightens a wing-style nut that spreads the two plates, thereby compressing the pistons. If the user attempts to compress only one piston at a time, on a dual piston system, the opposite piston will raise as the other is compressed. This tool can typically be rented from any parts store.

Piston Cube

The piston cube is by far the most basic of the tools used. To better understand how this tool is used, one must understand how a "no push-back" calipers function. This style of caliper has a threaded piston that turns and locks into place when the parking brake is engaged. This piston can only be compressed by twisting and pushing at the same time. This tool is a hollow cube that is attached to a ratchet. This cube has small pegs that are inserted into grooves on the piston so it can be turned. Each side of the cube has different peg styles and sizes for different vehicles. This tool is primarily used on rear caliper pistons.

Piston Tool Set

The piston tool set is by far the most versatile ---and expensive--- tool for brake caliper pistons. This tool combines all of the others into one. It has a plate that acts as the outer brake pad, a screwing clamp to press the piston and a series of interchangeable plates that attach to the press to match all styles of pistons. This tool can be used on nearly any style of brake caliper piston. As stated before, this tool kit it rather expensive, but most parts stores lend them for free with purchase.

In 1983, Chevrolet introduced a mid-sized SUV to the market, known as the Blazer. The Blazer gave drivers the usefulness of an SUV, without the bulk of a full-sized SUV. In 2002, the Trailblazer replaced all four-door Blazers and finally, in 2006, the Trailblazer replaced the Blazer altogether. The 2007 Trailblazer came standard with a 4.2-liter, in-line six-cylinder engine that produced 291 horsepower and 277 foot-pounds of torque. The 2007 Trailblazers styling was similar to that of its Blazer predecessor, including the vertical taillight assemblies. Replacing the brake light bulbs in these vertical taillight assemblies is a relatively easy task.

Instructions

1

Open the rear hatch and remove the two screws on the inner part of the taillight assembly with a Phillips screwdriver.

2

Pull the taillight assembly rearward to remove it from the Trailblazers body. Unplug the wiring harness from the rear of the taillight assembly, by pressing the locking button and pulling the harness away from the assembly.

3

Turn the taillight assembly over and remove the three screws holding the socket plate -- the roughly 2-by-5-inch plastic plate on the rear of the taillight assembly. Pull the socket plate from the taillight assembly; notice the bulbs remain attached to the plate.

4

Pull the burnt-out brake bulb from the socket plate with a slight wiggling motion. Grab a new 3157 brake light bulb with a clean, lint-free cloth and press it into the socket. Never touch the glass part of the bulb with your bare hands, as the oils from your hands can cause the bulb to burn out prematurely.

5

Set the socket plate back on the rear of the taillight assembly and tighten the three screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

6

Plug the wiring harness back into the socket plate and set the taillight assembly back on the rear of the Trailblazer. Tighten the two screws on the inner part of the taillight assembly with a Phillips screwdriver.

7

Close the Trailblazers hatch.

The Ford F-Series is a family of full-size pickup trucks in continuous production since 1948. The F150 pickup has a rated carrying capacity of 3/4 ton, although modern versions of this truck can carry much more than that. The braking system on late-model F150s includes an anti-lock braking system, or ABS, as standard equipment. This feature allows a vehicle to stop during an emergency without locking the wheels. The brake controller on an F150 is also known as the hydraulic control unit, or HCU.

Instructions

1

Remove the negative cable from the battery with a socket wrench to ensure the engine doesnt start during the procedure. Disconnect the air cleaner assembly.

2

Disconnect the four fittings that connect the brake lines to the HCU with a socket wrench, and detach the brake lines from the HCU. Remove the three bolts that attach the HCU bracket to the vehicle frame, and disconnect the HCU bracket.

3

Remove the two nuts that attach the HCU to its bracket with a socket wrench, and disconnect the HCU from its bracket. Detach the ABS module from the HCU.

4

Attach the ABS module to the new HCU. Install the HCU to its bracket, and tighten its retaining nuts to 80 inch-pounds with a torque wrench. Connect the HCU bracket to the vehicle frame, and tighten the mounting bolts to 18 foot-pounds. Attach the brake lines to the HCU, and tighten the fittings to 13 foot-pounds.

5

Connect diagnostic tool Worldwide Diagnostic System 418-F224 to the vehicles data link connector. Bleed the ABS, and use the diagnostic tool to clear any ABS faults. A qualified mechanic typically performs this step.

A faulty brake magnet can severely impact the stopping power of a trailer. While some magnet problems will be apparent upon visual inspection, there may also be electrical problems that can impact performance. A compromised brake magnet can lead to weak or surging brakes, or cause the brakes to pull to one side. It is important to inspect and test the magnets each time the brakes are worked on to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Instructions

1

Jack the trailer up high enough that each wheel turns freely. Secure the trailer with blocks under the frame at each end and on both sides to reduce the danger of the trailer falling on you should the jacks fail.

2

Remove the lug nuts and pull the tires and rims off of each axle.

3

Take off the grease cap and remove the cotter pin and castle nut. If there is a spindle washer, remove this too. Gently remove the outer bearing, drum, seal and inner bearing.

4

Locate the brake magnet. Take a straight edge tool and lay it across the top of the magnet. The edge of the magnet should be parallel to the straight edge all the way across. Any pitting or changes in the magnets surface indicate abnormal wear and the magnet should be replaced.

5

Check the center of the magnet for copper coil. If any coil can be seen, the magnet is worn out and should be replaced.

6

Visually inspect the magnet for grease or oil residue. If any is found, replace the magnet.

7

Check the magnet for short circuits. Disconnect the leads and the strain relief so that you can pull the leads through the backing plate. Unclip the leads from the lever arm and disconnect the magnet. Connect the positive battery terminal to one end of the ammeter lead and the other end to one of the magnet wires. Use a piece of 16-gauge wire and connect the magnet housing to the negative battery terminal. The ammeter should not show a current reading. If it does, a short exists and the magnet should be replaced.

8

Keeping the magnet wire connected to the ammeter lead, take the other magnet wire and attach it to the negative battery terminal. Take the other ammeter lead and attach it to the positive terminal. An amp reading of 3.2 or more at 12 volts means there is a short circuit in the coil and the magnet should be replaced.

9

Check the brake lining, shoes and repack the bearings if needed while the wheel assembly is apart. Put the parts back on the axle in the opposite order of how you removed them.

The Chevrolet C/K series is a family of full-size pickup trucks that General Motors has manufactured since 1960. The Silverado was the top trim level for the 1998 C/K trucks, and General Motors upgraded it to a separate model beginning with the 1999 model-year. The 1998 Silverado comes standard with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), which allows the vehicle to stop more effectively under emergency conditions. The Electro-Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) controls the amount of braking force to apply to each wheel.

Instructions

1

Locate the EHCU in the engine compartment on the left side of the engine. It is the black box with four brake lines running to it.

2

Detach the connectors for the electrical wiring from the EHCU. Disconnect the fittings for the brake lines with a socket wrench and detach the brake lines from the EHCU.

3

Disconnect the mounting bolts for the EHCU bracket with a socket wrench and remove the bracket from the vehicle. Remove the mounting bolts from the EHCU and detach the EHCU from its bracket.

4

Install the new EHCU onto its bracket and tighten the mounting bolts to 5 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Connect the EHCU bracket to the vehicle and tighten the mounting bolts for the bracket to 33 foot-pounds.

5

Connect the brake lines to their original positions on the EHCU and tighten the fittings to 16 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Attach the electrical connectors for the EHCU, ensuring the connections are secure.

6

Connect a TECH-1 scanning tool to the vehicles data link connector. Bleed the EHCU valve with three J-39177 tools and correct any ABS errors reported by the scanning tool. A professional mechanic would normally perform this step.

Chevrolet vehicles made in 1991 typically have an anti-lock braking system, or ABS, to improve the vehicles braking ability during an emergency stop. An electronic brake control module, or EBCM, monitors the rotation speed of each wheel. The EBCM decreases the braking force to a wheel when it detects that the wheel is rotating more slowly than the other wheels. The procedure for installing the EBCM is generally the same among many Chevrolet cars made from 1982 to 1994.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. An electrical discharge from the battery can damage the EBCM when you remove it.

2

Unplug the electrical connectors from the EBCM. The EBCM is a small, box-like component mounted to the dash panel on the drivers side. It typically has two electrical connectors.

3

Remove the three hex head screws from the EBCM with a hex wrench. Detach the EBCM from the dash panel. Remove it from the vehicle.

4

Align the holes in the grommets on the new EBCM with the corresponding holes in the dash panel. Hold the EBCM to the dash panel.

5

Attach the hex head screws to the EBCM with a hex wrench. Torque the screws to 17 pound-feet with a torque wrench.

6

Attach the electrical connectors to the EBCM and connect the cable for the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench.

A vehicles brake system is composed of many parts, such as calipers, discs and brake pads. When any one of these parts is out of alignment, vibrations, rusting and ultimately large amounts of friction force can cause noise that is often described as "squealing." Brake systems can be diagnosed and fixed at home without a necessary visit to the mechanic if the vehicle owner knows what to check. Some common solutions include brake pad replacement or lubrication.

Instructions

1

Drive your car for a few miles every day. Moisture from environmental precipitation can rest upon brake systems, causing small amounts of rust to form on the discs. Using the brakes on a daily basis will help wear this rust away and keep the brake system noise-free.

2

Change the brake pads, which are made to become thinner over prolonged use. Thin brake pads will give off a metal scraping sound, which is an indication they need to be changed. Choose brake pads made out of non-asbestos material to remove risks of inhaling cancerous contaminants.

3

Spray a can of aerosol brake lubricant onto your brake pad system to reduce fiction between the brake pad and the brake caliper. Spray this lubricant only on the side of the brake pad and disc facing away from the tire. Apply brake grease manually in the same manner.

4

Clean out the dust within the brake drum. Remove the drum, and wipe the dust away with a spray cleaner and towel. Allow the drum to dry completely before replacing.

The Chevrolet Suburban is a large sport utility vehicle that has the same platform as the Chevrolet C/K series of pickup trucks. The 2007 model has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), like most vehicles of this period. The ABS uses a brake controller, known as an electronic brake control module (EBCM), to determine the amount of braking force to apply to the wheels. The procedure for installing a brake controller in a 2007 Suburban is the same for similar vehicles such as the Escalade, Tahoe and Yukon.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery with a socket wrench. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack and support it on jack stands.

2

Locate the EHCU under the vehicle on the drivers side next to the driveshaft. The EHCU is an assembly consisting of the EBCM, the brake pressure modulator valve, or BPMV, and a mounting bracket. It is roughly the shape of a cube 3 inches on a side when it is fully assembled. Wash the area around the EHCU to remove any dirt.

3

Disconnect the mounting screws for the EBCM with a socket wrench, and detach the EBCM from the brake pressure modulator valve (BPMV). The BPMV is the small box-shaped component that is connected to the brake lines. Clean the mounting surface on the BPMV with a clean shop rag.

4

Mount the new EBCM to the BPMV, and fasten new screws to the EBCM with a socket wrench. Lower the vehicle with the floor jack, and attach the cable to the negative battery terminal.

5

Connect a scan tool to the vehicles data link connector, and program the new EBCM using the scan tools tire-size calibration function. Turn the ignition on and perform the diagnostic system check.

The Electronic Brake Control Module, or EBCM, on a Chevrolet Trailblazer controls the vehicles braking during an emergency stop by preventing the wheels from locking. The procedure for installing an EBCM is generally the same for all Trailblazers, and requires a scan tool to program the EBCM.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.

2

Clean the EBCM and surrounding area with a cloth to avoid contaminating the EBCM. The EBCM on a Trailblazer is under the vehicle on the drivers side next to the drive shaft. It is on top of the block that is connected to the brake lines.

3

Unplug the electrical connector from the EBCM, and remove the mounting screws for with a T-25 Torx tool. Detach the EBCM from the Brake Pressure Modulator Valve, or BPMV. Discard the mounting screws for the EBCM.

4

Wipe the BPMV clean with a shop cloth. Fasten the new EBCM to the BPMV with new mounting screws by using the T-25 Torx tool. Tighten the mounting screws in an X-pattern to 39 inch-pounds.

5

Connect the electrical wiring harness for the EBCM. Reconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.

6

Take the vehicle to a dealer to program the EBCM. This generally involves connecting a scan tool to the vehicle and performing the tire size calibration function.