THE IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING BRAKE HARDWARE
                     THE IMPORTANCE OF REPLACING BRAKE 
HARDWARE
Mark Sanford
Writer at Brake System
University providing advice, reviews and information on 
brake system components including brake line repair cost, 
replacement ABS sensors, brake line repair kit
.
You hear a lot about replacing brake pads, drums, and rotors, but they’re 
not the only items that often need replacing. Other components like 
adjustment springs, abutment clips, and backing shims can also wear out 
with time and use. Replacing brake hardware is crucial if you want your 
brakes to work with the reliable performance you’ve come to expect.
WHY REPLACE BRAKE HARDWARE?
Just like your pads and rotors, brake hardware is subjected to the same 
physical and environmental stresses – heat, moisture, and corrosion. Over 
time, these stresses can cause your brake hardware to wear out or 
corrode, which could cause a wide variety of problems.
Take brake pad backing shims, for instance. These shims help reduce noise, 
vibration and heat. These come pre-installed on some brake pads while 
others actually integrate these into the pad itself. On most standard and 
economy pads, however, expect to see these mounted separately on the 
back of the pads.
Corroded or worn-out brake pad shims can lead to excessive vibration as 
well as uneven wear. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for owners and 
even experienced mechanics to replace brake pads and rotors without also 
replacing the shims.
On cars with brake drums, worn-out return springs can stretch or even break 
entirely, causing the brake shoes to drag on the drum and create excess friction 
while creating more wear and tear. Adjuster springs and self-adjustment 
mechanisms that help compensate for lining wear can also wear out and cause 
additional wear.
Uneven wear isn’t the only problem worn-out brake hardware can cause. Issues 
like poor pedal feel and brake fade can be attributed to worn hardware. While 
corrosion is easy to spot, heat-induced metal fatigue is often invisible to the naked 
eye. Even if your brake hardware looks pristine, the hardware itself could be 
severely weakened after countless miles of exposure to high temperatures.
PREVENTION IS CHEAP
If you’re still wondering why you should always replace your brake hardware 
when replacing pads and rotors, it all comes down to one word – prevention.
Spending a few bucks on new brake hardware now will help you avoid hundreds 
or even thousands of dollars spent on brake repairs, not to mention the time 
spent without your car. New hardware will also help avoid other problems, 
including warped rotors and brake-induced pulling to one side.
Premium brake pads often come with new hardware, but standard and economy 
pads often leave these items out to lower costs. Fortunately, you can pick up a 
brake hardware kit from your local auto parts retailer for a reasonable price. 
Paying $10 for a kit is a cheap way to ensure your brakes work as they should.
About Brake System U
Brake System University is a micro site giving advice, reviews, and technical 
information on various brake system components like brake lines, brake 
line kits, and ABS sensors. Brake System University connects you to high 
quality, genuine brake system replacement parts including  replacement 
brake lines, replacement ABS sensors, replacement brake line kits that 
have been tested and reviewed by experts. If you want to replace any 
component of your brake system, then this 
site(https://brakesystems.autopartsu.com/) will helps you in choosing the 
right component. Brake System University connects you to trusted reviews 
and referrals to help you easily make a purchase decision.