A brake kit contains a set of parts intended for restoring the brake system operability or, sometimes, for performance tuning. Usually, it includes brake discs and brake pads, and occasionally calipers, hoses, and mounting elements.

Types

By the intended purpose, there are the following types of brake kits:

• Standard: these are a good replacement for the original parts. They can restore the original brake system performance.
• High-performance: these are for fans of sporty driving. These parts are intended for high loads. They are often installed during brake system tuning, as they allow adjustment of the system’s parameters.

Operating tips

Always follow the instructions and use appropriate tools when installing parts from the brake kit. Installation errors are the cause of many problems and can even result in complete brake failure. It’s also important to lubricate the caliper guide pins from time to time.

Elements of the brake system require regular visual inspection. If you find any leaks, you should immediately diagnose the system to find out what caused them and fix this malfunction. Besides, you need to monitor the thickness of the brake pads and discs. Remember that it is prohibited to apply pastes or any lubricants on the friction surfaces of the components. Moreover, when using standard kits or factory-installed parts, you need to avoid aggressive driving style, otherwise, you may overheat and damage the brakes. Or you can install a high-performance brake kit– it includes parts that retain their operating characteristics even at extremely high temperatures.

Signs of malfunctions

Car pulling to one side during braking may be a symptom of various malfunctions: worn or soiled brake pads, deformed or scuffed brake discs, deformed calipers, seized guide pins or pistons, brake fluid leak from the working cylinder, damaged or clogged hoses. Unusually long travel of the brake pedal (“soft” or “spongy” brakes) often results from the brake system leakage, for instance, when there are damaged hoses or seals on pistons and working cylinder. Squeaking or squealing noises may indicate damage to the friction pairs. If you need less effort to press the pedal and start braking, this usually means there’s air in the system. On the contrary, if you need more effort, the caliper piston is possibly jammed. A smell of burning is another indirect sign telling that the caliper pistons or guide pins are seized. While overheating of the brake disc is the common symptom of a jammed wheel hub bearing.

Causes of malfunctions

The brake kit components may fail if you don’t service your brakes in time. For instance, neglecting to grease the guide pins or replace their dust boots will cause the brake caliper to seize. This leads to uneven wear of the brake discs and pads and poor braking performance. Contaminated brake fluid leads to deposit build-up in the system, damages the hoses and seals, causes piston jamming. Aggressive driving style can result in overheating the brakes.

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