Added: 01/13/2006 |
Toyota Brakes And Other Parts Readily Available For The Do-It-YourselferIf you own a car then you will know all about how hard it can be to maintain a car, but if you are a safety freak and you own a Toyota then you will constantly keep checking the Toyota brakes. It's not that the brakes on a Toyota are always under danger, it's just that there are a lot of people that know the brakes are one of the most important parts to a car, especially if you want to keep yourself and your family safe when you are driving them around.
Toyota brakes are not any different from any other automobile. There are two different types of brake systems, disc and drum. Toyota brakes are usually split between the two with disc on the front and drum on the rear. There are exceptions to this, as some cars feature four-wheel disc brakes as an option.
If you are having problems with your Toyota brakes, the first order of business is to determine where the problem lies. To illustrate this, we will use the common problem of scrapping or grinding.
The most common cause of grinding or scrapping in Toyota brakes is pads or shoes that have worn down. The sound is caused by the metal that is behind the brake pad or shoe material connecting with the drum or rotor. The simplest way to determine where the sound is coming from (front or rear) is to drive slowly while applying the brakes while the window is down. You should be able to hear where the grinding is located.
To correct this problem with your Toyota brakes you will need to purchase new pads or shoes and some brake fluid. To avoid further problems, make sure you change the pads or shoes on both sides, not just the side that is grinding. First step is to jack up and support the car, front or back which ever applies, and remove the tires. For disc Toyota brakes, you will need to remove the brake caliper. This is achieved by loosening the two mounting bolts. These bolts are normally allen or torques heads and may require a special tool. Ask the parts store if this is the case. Once the caliper is removed, the pads come out easily. To reassemble, you will need to compress the piston inside the caliper. There are special tools for this, but a large C clamp works just as well. Once you have compressed the piston, install the pads and reassemble. You may need to bleed the brake lines, but this is not always the case. Test the pressure of the brake pedal to be sure.
Drum style Toyota brakes are slightly more complicated. Once you have removed the tire, you will need to remove the drum. It should slide off with a little pressure. Do not strike the center hub, as this will cause damage. Once the hub is removed, you need to remove the springs, self-adjuster, and mounting springs. Parts stores normally rent or loan tools for this job and they are very useful. If not available, a pair of pliers and a flat bladed screwdriver will also work. Once all of this is complete, the shoes can be removed. Simply reassemble in reverse order.
Problems with your Toyota radiator can include engine over heating or a lack of heat into the car. While replacing your Toyota radiator is not all that complicated, it can be expensive. New radiators can run anywhere from $50 to $700 depending on the make and model.
To replace your Toyota radiator, you will first need to drain the existing one. A drain plug, located on the bottom of either the right or left side, is provided. Once drained, remove all hoses and lines connecting to the radiator, and then remove the mounting bolts located at the top and bottom.
Once you have reinstalled the new radiator, refill it with a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water. Squeeze the top hose several times while filling to make sure all air bubbles are released.
Those are the basics of repairing to common problems. Maintaining your Toyota brakes and Toyota radiator will not only keep you safe, but also help to extend the life of your vehicle.
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