Word Count: 694 Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 6:59 AM
Brake Lathe Repair Systems -- A Look At The Two Main Types
Replacing various parts in the braking system is an inevitable but expensive part of vehicle maintenance. One of the best ways to lower the financial strain of this is to use a brake lathe repair system to return brakes back to their optimum quality. A variety of brake lathe parts and models give you the opportunity to fix braking problems with the rotor or drum on virtually any vehicle. The ease and convenience of this equipment makes it easy for at home mechanics and professionals to make these repairs fast and with ideal quality. All you need to do is to select the model that best meets your needs.
Bench Style Models
The drums and rotors of your vehicle need to be removed in order to repair them with a bench brake lathe repair system. This style has been around for a long time and is found in both commercial and private garages. One of the biggest advantages to this style is that it is easy to set up and use -- all you have to do is remove the drums or rotors from the vehicle, slip it into place, and repair them.
Bench brake lathe repair systems can return parts back to their original quality and can even be more accurate than the original parts from the factory. The brake lathe parts that are most important when it comes to achieving the highest quality are the mounting cones and adapters. These sections of the machine should be of the highest quality possible and replaced as soon as they begin to wear.
When choosing bench units, several options are available. Speed is one of these choices. Bench style units come in high-speed, single, and variable speeds. Some come with additional brake lathe parts, such as a digital measuring system, to help you get the most accurate cuts possible. Some styles of lathes are only capable of repairing either drums or rotors while others can repair both sections. This is where they have a significant advantage over the second main type of lathe called an on-car style.
On Car Brake Lathe Repair Systems
On-car models give you the convenience of repairing the braking system right on the vehicle. This is helpful because you do not have to remove the hub or other items lowering your risk of damaging anything. They are also favored because they have very little risk of uneven cuts or rotor runout.
These systems attach in one of two places. One style attaches to the caliper mounts on the knuckle. This style needs to have a certain amount of give in the wheel bearing. This means some styles, such as self-adjusting models, will need adjusting. The second type is mounted on the hub. This produces a repair of the same quality, but has the same issues.
Both on-car style lathes require a certain amount of time to set up because the set up directly determines the quality of the repair. Some come with a dial and one or three point design that helps you determine the right set up. Newer versions have additional brake lathe parts like an onboard computer that automatically determines the correct set up with very little time or effort required by the mechanic.
All styles of brake lathe repair systems can fix drums and rotors to the point that they are equivalent or better than they were when they were originally manufactured. Standard bench styles give you the option of fixing both sections at the same time. On-car models, on the other hand, are better with vehicles that are more difficult to work on.
Specialized brake lathe parts can be added to the equipment to increase the convenience of the equipment and improve the quality level of the repair. For personal use, mechanics often select the type that works well for the vehicles they own. Commercial shops often select a few of each style to allow them to provide the highest level of customer service and fix the many repairs they are often requested to make.
About the Author
Christine O'Kelly writes for the leading provider of brake lathe parts, SVI International. They have been specializing in brake lathe repair, heavy-duty lifts, and other automotive equipment for over 28 years.
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