Tag: mini truck brakes

best brake pads for trucks

Best Brake Pads For Trucks

Brake pads are the parts of the braking system where all the braking processes end. What does this mean? When you step on the brake pedals. The brake fluids generate pressure, making the brake pads press against the brake disc rotor. The pressure generated depends on how you step on the brake pedal. It is this pressure that stops your truck. You need to have the best brake pads for your truck to get good performance.

The more you step on the brake pedal, the more the brake pads become stressed and eventually wear out. There are many brake pads at the market if you need to replace yours. The variations in these brake pads depend on the market prices, quality, and performance. The brake pads also vary depending on the specifications of your truck, and thus they are not universal. From such variations, let us focus on the best five brake pads to buy for your truck. 

The Best Brake Pads for Trucks

Akebono Brake Pads

These Japanese brake pads are suitable for trucks, cars, and two-wheel automobiles. Such pads are also ideal for high-performance vehicles like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. Akebono offers the best braking power and low dust emission, and their affordable price market. For example, the Akebono ProAct Front Lincoln and Ford Ceramic Brake Pads, Ultra-Premium is available at affordable prices. 

Stop-Tech

The stop-Tech is a popular brake pad in the market and offers the best performance, and it will never disappoint whenever you want to slow down instantly. These brake pads will give you the best performance when driving through wind, up-country and poor roads. Due to their nature, you will find stop-tech brake pads in most police cars. 

Heavy trucks and SUVs also find these brake pads effective for stopping. Such vehicles are heavy, and thus they need brake pads that can accommodate and instantly stop the weight of a truck. For example, the StopTech 309.10780 Metallic Brake Pads are popular in the market.

Bosch

Bosch is a German brand of brake pads. Germany is renowned for making high-end engines. Bosch is famous for cars like the Audi, Nissan, Toyota, and Lexus cars. These are not the only car brands that bosch operates; they can fit in most trucks and SUVs. Bosch offers instant stopping and operates quietly, giving you a quiet ride. Bosche is a high-quality brake pad that produces minimal brake dust as it functions. 

Bosch brake pads are strong and durable, and they are thus able to stop heavy trucks at any speed. The bosch BC905 QuiteCast Ceramic Brake Pads is an example of a bosche brake pad available in the market. 

AC Delco

AC Delco is a high-quality brake pad that is affordable to every truck owner. Such brake pads are famous for their low dust emission, zero noise production, and best performance. If you buy it, you will get good value for your money. Those who own GM trucks and SUVs prefer using the AC Delco, but they are suitable for other vehicles too. At the market, consider AC Delco 14D785CH Advantage Ceramic Brake Pads. 

Conclusion

When shopping for brake pads, consider any of the above options for quality, performance, and affordability. 

Do you experience brake lights not turning off? The braking system has several parts joined together.

Causes of Brake Lights Not Turning Off

Do you experience brake lights not turning off? The braking system has several parts joined together. Some of these parts work independently, while others depend on others to function. For example, the braking light is one of the crucial brake parts. The brake lights rely on the pressure applied on the brake pedal to function. On the other hand, the brake pedal does not depend on the brake light hence, it can continue to work effectively even if the brake lights are not functioning correctly. When you step on the brake pedal, there is a switch that alerts the brake light that the brake pedal is engaged and should produce some light. Wiring components connect the brake pedal, the switch, and the brake lights. The striker will disengage whenever you release your foot from the brake pedal, and the brake light will go off. 

Causes of Brake Lights Not Turning Off

Above is a simple explanation of how brake lights work. If the brake light switch or the striker is damaged, the brake light might fail to function. If you realize that your brake lights do not go off even after stopping your truck, you must take your truck for repairs because the brake lights will consume all the power in the battery, making it difficult for you to start your truck.

Why Break Lights Do Not Turn Off

Let us look at some of the reasons why your brake light might fail to turn off. 

Faulty Brake Light Switch

When there is a problem with the brake light switch, the light will not turn off even after releasing your foot from the brake pedal. The switch is below the dash and attached to the brake pedal. 

Whenever the brake lights turn on when driving, know there is a problem with the brake light switch. 

Worn Out Striker

The striker is at the top of the brake pedal linkage. This component disengages the brake light switch as soon as you release your foot from the brake pedal. Sometimes, the striker breaks or becomes repositioned. If such happens, the switch may not function correctly, and the brake lights might fail to switch off. Pieces of floorboard are an indication that your striker is breaking.

Stuck Brake Pedal

Sometimes you will press the brake pedal, and it fails to return to its original position when you release your foot, the stuck brake pedal results from corrosion of the brake components. When the brake pedal sticks on the floor, the striker will not disengage the switch, and your brake lights will remain to function.

Faulty Wiring

Another cause of brake lights not turning off is wiring problems. If you fix the brake lights but persist, the wiring might be the issue. Consider contacting your technician to correct the problem.

Conclusion

Brake lights not turning off is a common problem to do with brakes for both old and new trucks. Whenever your brake lights fail to go off, you might cause confusion or even accidents for other road users. Knowing the causes of brake lights not going off is necessary, enabling you to check only specific parts.

In this guide, we will delve deep into things that should lead you to know when you need to do a brake pad replacement.  

Signs That You Need Brake Pad Replacement In Your Truck

Many people who own cars maintain a regular engine service but oversee the braking system until it becomes faulty. It will be helpful if you never ignore the braking system. A series of activities happen any moment you step on the brake pedal. Such activities strain most parts of the braking system, such as the brake pads. In this guide, we will delve deep into things that should lead you to know when you need to do a brake pad replacement.  

What is a Brake Pad, And How Does It Work?

Behind every wheel, especially the front wheels, there is a metallic disc. The disc has a caliper that squeezes it from both sides when you press the brake pedal. Brake pads are the size of palms that the calipers use to squeeze the rotors to stop the vehicle.

The pressing on the brake disc creates friction which wears out the brake pads. Due to friction, the brake pads get worn out. If you notice they are worn out, you can replace them. 

Signs That You Need Brake Pad Replacement

If You Feel Vibration When You Step on the Brake Pedal

A binding resin binds the two brake pads. As they wear out, this rasing spreads and gets smeared on the rotor forming a layer on the disc’s surface. The resing may not be evenly distributed on the disc’s surface, which makes your brake pedal vibrate.

The Vehicle Pulls Sideways When Braking

The rate at which each brake pad wears out is different. Mostly one side will wear out fast compared to the other. If this happens, you will feel a sideways pulling when you step on the brake pedal. If you ignore the pulling, you will stress your steering. Sideways pulling is not only a sign of worn-out brake pads but can also occur if the pressure in your tire is uneven or the wheel bearing has a problem.

Your Vehicle Takes Time To Stop

Brake fade is a situation where you press the brake pedal, but your vehicle never stops instantly. Brake fade is typical when driving on a winding or down a hill. The persistence of this problem indicates that your brakes cannot generate adequate friction to stop the vehicle. 

Clicking Sound When Pressing the Brake Pedal

Various vehicles have different ways of holding the brake pads in places, such as clips, bolts, or pins. The flexible brake pads produce a clicking sound when you press the brake pedal. As the brake pads wear out, they become loose and rattle.

Squealing Noise

The brake pads have a wear indicator. The wear indicator is metallic and located on the brake pads. As the pads wear out, they come in contact with the rotor. The contact between the wear indicator and the rotor produces a squealing sound. The squealing noise is an unpleasant sound that warns you that the brake pads are worn-out.

Conclusion,

The braking system is life-saving and an integral part of your vehicle. Many road crash result from a faulty braking system. It is necessary to listen to your brake pads and if you feel any signs that they are wearing out, consider replacing them as soon as possible.

Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes - Which is Better on a Mini Truck?

Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes – Which is Better on a Mini Truck?

Mini trucks use two types of brakes: the disc and the drum. The working principles of the two differ, but when combined for a mini truck, they deliver the best performance. This guide focuses on the two braking systems your mini truck uses.

Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes – Which is Better on a Mini Truck?

Disc Brake

Modern vehicles use this kind of brakes. The disc brakes are either mounted on a car’s front or rear axle and have a caliper with brake pads that grabs the disc if engaged. Some vehicles, especially the high-performance ones, have disc brakes on the four wheels, while most cars only have disc brakes on the front wheels. 

Why this? The weight of most vehicles is in the front because of the engine, and when they are empty, a more significant percentage of the weight goes to the front part. Whenever brakes are applied, the weight of the vehicle shifts to the front, and more braking power is required in front, making the disc brakes preferred. 

Advantages of Disc Brakes

  1. They have a high braking power regardless of the disc’s size, which makes them effectively stop the mini truck at high speed.
  2. They are open and can emit heat to the surrounding.
  3. Their openness makes them resistant to retaining unwanted materials such as rust.
  4. They never lock up when applied at high speed because they use ABS. 

Disadvantages of Disc Brake

  1. They are expensive to produce and install. 
  2. They can make the mini truck skid and even lock tires if the ABS is faulty.
  3. It requires regular checks and replacement.
  4. They can fail if air gets into the master cylinder.

Drum Brakes

Drum brakes have been an ancient braking system in the motoring industry for decades. Heavy and light-duty trucks, vans, and regular small cars use a drum braking system, especially on the rear wheels. The drum brakes do not use brake pads; instead, it has a wheel cylinder having pistons that push the brake shoes against the moving brake drum. The contact between the brake shoes and the drum slows down the wheels. 

Advantages of Drum Brakes

  1. They are cheap to produce and install.
  2. They require little force to stop the vehicle.
  3. They can comfortably lodge the parking brakes.
  4. It is easy to service the wheel cylinders.

Disadvantages of Drum Brakes

  1. It overheats, and the metallic parts are prone to expansion.
  2. It is prone to rust because it is closed and collects unwanted materials.
  3. They wear out fast because of the high amounts of heat they produce while in action.
  4. It has many complex parts which might quickly fail. 

Conclusion: Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes?

The mini truck uses disc brakes in front and drums brakes on the rear axle. Disc brakes remain superior, but we can’t downplay the drum brakes. The drum brakes are cheap to install and maintain, so they can be a better choice in the long run. Disc brakes, on the other hand, have the best performance.