Brakes may not be the most exciting part of a car, but they're certainly one of the most crucial. But how do we keep them in top shape so they can quickly stop your massive chunk of steel and glass hurtling through space? See more »

Anyone with an expensive car (or even just a nice set of wheels) knows that brake dust can quickly turn your shiny rims shabby. Brake dust covers promise to protect your investment, but do they work? See more »

A brake lathe is an efficient tool for curing noise and vibration problems, and it can often prolong the life of brake systems. Is this something you need in your own garage, or do brake lathes belong in a mechanic's shop? See more »

If you like to change the brakes on your own car, you might want to have a brake puller handy. This is a device that pulls the drum away from the brake shoes and can be useful with older vehicles that have stuck drum brakes. Let's find out more. See more »

If you know how to change a tire and can use an aerosol spray, then you already know how to use brake cleaner. It's an effective way to remove oil, dirt and debris from your vehicle's brake components. See more »

You can tell a lot about the condition of your car's brakes by how they feel when you push on them. Too hard, too soft or too gritty all mean different things. Here's a guide to help you figure it out. See more »

Remember the old "Flintstones" cartoon where Fred stops his car by pressing his feet down to the ground? Though our braking method today is surprisingly similar (we put our feet down, and the car stops), it's also a bit more advanced -- thanks in part to an amazingly useful and underappreciated liquid we call "brake fluid." See more »

One of the scariest things is to step on your brakes and feel no traction. This can happen if the pads have become too worn. That's why it's important to check them regularly. We'll show you how. See more »

It's important to keep all parts of your car's brake system in proper working order -- including the caliper guide pins. All you'll need is a few hand tools and a little high-temperature grease. See more »

You may have heard that by the time you discover your car has a brake problem, it's usually too late. Fortunately, the brake system is pretty simple, and it's easy to learn how to check the condition of different brake components. See more »