Get best gas mileage with proper car brake service and repair. Gas mileage can be affected by several brake system related problems, all of which cause the brakes to apply slightly (drag) as if the driver were putting a light touch on the gas pedal. Some of the problems will cause one of the two brake pads on each side of the car to wear out faster, others will be felt as a pulsation or sponginess in the brake pedal. No matter what goes wrong, the result is the same - gas mileage suffers because the brakes need attention. Correct car brake service and repair is important, not just for safety, but to maintain best gas mileage.
brake drag can be caused by:
Repair Drum Brakes to Get Best Gas Mileage
broken or defective return springs - this allows the brake shoes to contact the drum since there is not enough spring force to retract the brakes after the driver releases the brake pedal. If you are changing your own brakes and are in doubt about the condition of the return springs, it's better to replace them. They're cheap. Dragging brakes will cost you enough gas mileage to pay for them.
overadjusted brakes - some mechanics think tighter is better, that's not true. Not only will gas mileage suffer, the brakes will wear out much faster.
worn out or defective wheel cylinder - when the driver applies the brake pedal, brake fluid pressure forces the shoes against the spinning drum. If the wheel cylinder piston seizes inside the cylinder, the brakes may not retract properly, allowing the shoes to remain against the drums after the driver releases the brake pedal. If the piston cups are worn out or defective, the cylinder could leak, possibly contaminating the brakes, which can make the "grab" suddenly under brake pressure. Again, safety and gas mileage are both in jepoardy.
Repair Disc Brakes to Get Best Gas Mileage
brake pads with broken or defective retaining springs / clips - the same as broken or defective return springs, the brake pads will not release completely from the rotor after the brake pedal is released by the driver. This applies to disc brake systems that were designed to use retaining springs and clips.
defective / worn out caliper - brake fluid pressure forces the caliper piston(s) to push the inner brake pad against the spinning rotor. Once the inner pads have contacted the rotor, the disc brake calipers "slide" along pins or bushings so the outer pad can also contact the rotor. If the pins or bushings are worn out, dirty, or defective, this may not happen properly and not only will the brakes perform worse, the inner pads will wear out faster. Also if the caliper piston is seizing (not moving) inside the caliper, the result can be the same - reduced safety and gas mileage.
Note: A very real danger to these problems is that only one side of the car may be affected. With reduced brake capacity on one side, the driver could lose control under hard braking.
Both drum & disc brakes
warped drum / rotor - this condition will be easy to detect, as it will cause a pulsating brake pedal
wheel not installed properly - this causes the drum or rotor to not seat correctly, potentially causing a pulsating brake situation like the one described above.
clogged brake line or hose - pressure may not release brakes when brake pedal is released.
parking brake
mechanism not releasing - cable worn, damaged, or in need of lubrication. Dragging brakes = reduced gas mileage.
parking brake return springs - part of the rear drum brakes on most cars, these may also be broken or defective.
loose or tight wheel bearings (we'll talk more about wheel bearings in another section)
While a worn out or defective power booster or master cylinder could cause a brake drag, the most common problems are discussed above.
All of these problems have one thing in common - fixing them will help you get best gas mileage!
Whatever you do, don't drive with your foot resting on the brake pedal! This will not only cause premature brake wear, but will kill your gas mileage! Our goal here is to tell you about the brake repairs you can do to get best gas mileage, so don't void all your hard work.
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