Pat Goss: This time we’re joined by our online parts expert Tom Taylor. Tom, welcome to Goss’ garage.

Tom Taylor: Thanks Pat, it’s great to be here.

Pat Goss: Alright, what did you bring for us today? 

Tom Taylor: We’ll we’re going to talk about the rear brakes. There actually two systems going on back here. You have the brake that stops the car and then the parking brake for when you park on a hill or just want to be safe and don’t roll away. The parking brake needs to be inspected and serviced like the regular brake because damage can happen pretty quick. The example we have here the driver left the parking brake on dragging for just about 5 miles and that was just enough time to overheat the metal it starts to distort a little bit the friction material might melt or distort and it cracks and actually chunks falling off. So your parking brake doesn’t work anymore or you get noise or both. 

Pat Goss: In my shops we recommend you check the brakes on any car every 12 months or 12-thousand miles and that would include checking the parking brake. 

Tom Taylor: Right because this could happen when you’re not driving the car as well as when you loan it to a kid it takes just a few miles for the damage. When you are checking it or replacing it it’s good to lube between the parking brake show and backing plate just like you would the pins in the caliper. Very similar systems. This is actually like the old brake shows and brake drums in 30-year-old cars.   

Pat Goss: And this is where we recommend you use a dedicated brake grease because it’s different from regular chassis grease or anything like that.

Tom Taylor: The dirt and dust get embedded in there and it will still provide some lubrication. I’d also put lube between the hub and rotor this is where rust builds up and you might have the two sort of welded together or there’s so much rust you sort of get rust chaffing or the rotor goes off center a little bit and you get that warped rotor effect that you can actually feel the car vibrating. 

Pat Goss: And again, we use anti seize compound and we take it one step further we put a little bit of this on the inside of the wheel where it fits over that hub because they’re prone to corroding and if you have a flat tire and it’s welded on there, you’re out of luck. 

Tom Taylor: Right the sandwich of the wheel the rotor and the hub and all those it’s a great idea.

Pat Goss: Alright, a lot of people don’t like to use the parking brake. Bad idea?

Tom Taylor: Yeah, they think I don’t want to wear it out. No you should use it keeps everything so it doesn’t seize up. It keeps everything lubricated, and if it’s a cable system it’s not bound up inside the conduit with rust. So you gotta use it.

Pat Goss: Okay, Tom, Thank you. And if you have a question or comment, drop me a line right here at Motorweek.