If you hear a sound from your tires every time you brake, it takes too long to stop your car, or your brakes fail, it is time to change them. The braking system is very important in ensuring you are safe while driving; hence, you need to be careful while changing the brakes. If you do not have a garage and it is raining, you might wonder if changing the brakes in the rain is okay.
So, can you change the brakes in the rain? You can change your brakes in the rain because water does not affect their performance. The brakes will eventually get wet when you drive your car in wet conditions; hence, a little rain on them is not bad. However, changing the brakes in the rain will not be a good experience for you. You will get wet, and your visibility might be affected by the amount of rain.
Brake pads usually wear out after driving for a while, reducing their effectiveness. If the brake pads are too thin, it is time to change them, and you can either seek the services of a mechanic or do it yourself.
All cars need maintenance after driving for a certain distance. Changing brakes is important to maintain your car because it ensures your safety on the road. When it is time to change your brakes, and it is raining, if you do not have a garage, you might wonder if you can change the brakes in the rain.
You can change brakes in the rain because water does not affect their performance. When changing the brakes in the rain, the brake pads will get rained on, but that will not affect their effectiveness. You will drive your car in wet conditions, and the brakes will get wet, but they will still work as normal. However, changing the brakes in the rain will not be fun.
Rain droplets can get to your eyes, affecting your visibility, and you might find it difficult working with wet clothes and tools. To prevent rust, you should also ensure you dry your tools before storing them. If you are not in a rush to use your car, you can wait out the rain and change the brakes when it is dry outside.
Changing your car’s brake is easy as long as you know how to do it. If the brakes show signs that they need to be replaced, you can do it yourself, and it will not take a long time. However, if it is raining outside and you do not have a place to change the brakes, you can do it in the rain.
If you do not mind getting wet, you can change the brakes, and water will not affect the brake’s effectiveness. The only thing you need to ensure does not happen is water getting into the brake fluid. The brake fluid needs to remain pure at all times to function properly.
If you have to change the brake fluid while changing the brake pads, you should not do it while it rains. You can change the brake pads first, and when it stops raining, you can replace the brake fluid.
Changing the brakes in the rain is not going to be a good experience hence you should do it only if you need to use the car as soon as possible. There is no need to get wet if you are not going to drive the car in a few days.
While changing the brake in the rain, you should try and stay dry if possible. If you live with someone, you can ask them to hold an umbrella for you while you change the brake. You should also ensure the tools you are using are dry when you store them.
If you store the tools while they are still wet, they will rust and will not function properly when you need to use them again. You should also take breaks to warm up; staying too long in the cold rain is not good for your health.
You must be careful when changing your brakes to ensure that all brakes are fitted properly on the wheels. Changing the brakes in the rain will cause you to rush because you do not want to stay too long in the rain.
To avoid making mistakes, change the brakes one wheel at a time. Change the brakes on one wheel and go back inside your house to warm up before changing the next wheel. If you are fast, you can change the front brakes, take a break and change the rear brakes.
It is also helpful to review the procedure of changing the brakes before starting. If you think you made a mistake while changing the brakes, do not drive the car until you can confirm all the brakes are functioning properly.
Before you start the process, ensure you have all the necessary tools. Some tools you will need include ratchets, breaker bars, C-Clamp, jack, wrenches, pry bars, and WD-40, among others. Do not start until you know where all the tools you need are located.
You should also have new brake pads and rotors and ensure they are good quality. Loosen the lug nuts on all wheels to speed up the wheel removal process. Place the jack underneath your car’s frame rail or factory jacking points and lift the car.
Ensure you have engaged the parking brake when removing the wheel and disengage the parking brake after the wheel is off. Place bricks or stones behind the other wheels to prevent the car from rolling away.
Loosen the caliper by removing the bolts and sliding the caliper out using a pry bar or screwdriver. Place the caliper on the suspension and remove the caliper carrier. Remove the rotor using a hammer.
Some rotors are screwed in; hence, you need to unscrew them before hitting them with a hammer. Install the new rotor, but clean off the rust, oil, or grease residue before installing it. Replace the carrier bolts and compress the caliper.
Compress the caliper piston using the C-Clamp until the piston’s position is flush with the housing of the caliper. Install the new brake pads and caliper and apply some anti-squeal grease on the brake pads.
Tighten the caliper bolts and double-check your work before reinstalling the wheel. Repeat the process on the other wheel and pump the brakes until you feel the pressure on the brake pedal. After changing all the brakes on your car, break in the pads to ensure your braking system is working properly.
Can You Break in Brakes in the Rain?
After changing your brakes and double-checking to ensure you have done a perfect job, the next thing is to break in the brake pads. Breaking in your brakes will ensure you know if they are fitted on correctly and can work under different speeds and conditions. If you have changed your brakes and it starts to rain, you might wonder if you can break in the brakes in the rain.
You can break in brakes in the rain because water does not have a negative impact on the brake pads. As long as you follow the correct procedure of breaking in new brake pads, the weather condition you are driving in does not matter. Most brake pads come with instructions on breaking them in, and none specify that you should do it on a sunny day.
As long as you have installed the brake pads correctly, you can break them in while it is raining, and they will work properly until it is time to change them again. Breaking the pads during the rain is also advantageous because you can learn how your braking system works during wet conditions.
After installing them on your car, it is important to break in the brake pads and rotors. You can only skip the breaking-in step if the brake pads and rotors manufacturer confirms there is no need to break them in before using your car.
If you fail to break in the rotors and brake pads, they might malfunction after driving a few miles and lead to poor braking performance. The reason you need to break in the rotors and brake pads is to condition the brake pad and the rotors’ outer surface area. During the breaking-in process, material from the brake pad is transferred to the rotor creating a thin padded film.
The procedure also ensures that the thin film is spread evenly on the rotor’s outer surface, preventing noise, vibrations, and uneven wear. You can follow the break-in procedure printed on the brake pads or rotor’s package.
You should note that your safety and the safety of other road users is very important; hence, you need to break in the new brakes in a safe location. Use a remote area where there is little or no traffic.
Breaking in brake pads and rotors involves quick acceleration and stopping; hence, you cannot do it on a busy road. Even if you have to drive your car to a remote location to do the procedure, do not be tempted to start breaking in brakes and rotors on the road. You should also ensure that you wear your seat belt while breaking in the brakes.
It is also important to inform someone close to you what you are doing so that they can find you in case an accident happens. You should also choose an area that emergency services can easily access in case of an emergency.
Breaking in brakes and rotors is done in two rounds. In the first round, you need to drive your vehicle at a speed of 45 mph and brake smoothly to a stop. Repeat this process three or four times while checking how your car stops when you press the brake pedal.
You can also apply medium pressure when pressing the brake pedal. Allow the brakes to cool for a few minutes before the second round. In the second round, drive your car at 60 mph and hard brake to 15 mph. Repeat this process eight to ten times and let the car stay idle for a few minutes or continue driving slowly for a few minutes while the brakes cool off.
Once the brakes have cooled off, check the brake pads to see if they have changed color. If they have changed color, the process has been successful, and there is an even thin padded film between the brake pads and the rotors.
You should note that the speed you need to drive your car while breaking in the brake pads and rotors will vary depending on the brake pad’s manufacturer’s recommendation or your car’s user manual. You should also avoid coming to a complete stop during the second round of breaking in the brakes.
You might damage the brake pads if you brake too hard during the procedure. If you are breaking in the brake in the rain, ensure you avoid driving in areas with excess water. Water might not affect the brakes, but if it gets into your car, it can damage electrical components in your car.
After completing the process, avoid taking a road back home with many stops and heavy traffic. Use a route with minimal stop lights to keep the brakes cool. Since you are breaking in the brakes in the rain, you might have to make several more stops during the first and second rounds to ensure the brake pads are heated correctly.
If you mess up during the procedure, such as braking too hard during the first round, the brake pads will be heated excessively. They might transfer material to the rotors unevenly and, when they cool off, will create an uneven pattern on the rotors.
These uneven patterns can damage your brake pads and wear them unevenly; hence you will have to replace them and do the break-in process again. To avoid extra costs, ensure you follow the break-in procedure correctly.
Summary
The braking system is one of your car’s most important safety features, and you must maintain it regularly. You must change the brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid, among other parts, after driving for a certain distance.
You can change the brake in the rain because water does not affect the brake pad’s performance. However, you must ensure that water does not get mixed with the brake fluid while changing the brakes.
After changing the brake pads, you need to brake in the pads and rotors to ensure they will function properly when you drive your car. You can break in the brakes in the rain because the weather condition does not affect their performance. All you need to do is find a safe place to break in the brake pads and rotors and follow the procedure indicated in this article or printed on the brake pad’s packaging.
