Can Car Brakes Be Adjusted for Tightness?
2 Answers
Car brakes can be adjusted for tightness. The adjustment methods are: 1. Adjust the brake pedal travel: The nut below the pedal can be adjusted; 2. Adjust the clearance: The clearance is automatically adjusted and does not require manual adjustment. Car brakes are referred to as braking, which means the action of stopping or reducing the speed of running locomotives, vehicles, other transportation tools, or machinery. Reasons for car brake failure: 1. Severe overload: Under the effect of gravitational acceleration, the vehicle's movement inertia increases; 2. Improper operation: Improper operation leads to mechanical failure, such as prolonged downhill driving causing brake pads to generate heat through friction, brake drums to carbonize, and brake function to completely fail; 3. Lack of brake system maintenance: Excessive impurities in the brake master cylinder, poor sealing, failure of the vacuum booster pump, excessively dirty brake fluid or mixed use of several brake fluids leading to vapor lock when heated, leakage in the brake master cylinder or wheel cylinder, and air leakage from the air reservoir or pipeline connections.
From a repair experience perspective, brake tightness can indeed be adjusted, but it depends on the brake type. Older drum brakes usually have automatic adjusters that compensate for wear clearance when the vehicle brakes in reverse, but over-adjustment can easily cause locking. Modern disc brake tightness is primarily determined by the brake caliper piston retraction, which cannot be adjusted individually—special tools are required to retract the piston when replacing brake pads. If the pedal feels soft, it might be due to brake fluid containing water or air in the lines. In such cases, avoid tampering with the brake line screws yourself, as improper handling could lead to complete brake failure. I've seen beginners adjust the handbrake cable themselves and lock up the rear brakes, ultimately requiring a tow to the shop. For pedal travel issues, it's best to visit a professional workshop where they can diagnose the hydraulic system using specialized computer tools.
