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How can you tighten car brakes?

It’s hard to explain, but the brakes on my car feel loose. I feel like they need to be tightened. How can you tighten car brakes?

avatar
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Feeling like your brakes are loose is not an uncommon issue. You can easily tighten car brakes at home in two ways, depending on the types of brakes you have.
Every car has two front brakes and two rear brakes. Modern vehicles typically have two front disc brakes and two rear drum brakes or just four disc brakes.
Disc brakes adjust automatically but you can tighten them further by:
  • Turning off the engine
  • Pumping the brakes a few times
  • Starting the car
  • Pumping the brakes a few more times
  • Making a few quick stops with the car
Drum brakes adjust when you drive in reverse and come to a complete stop, so you may want to do this a few times to tighten them.
Hopefully, the above methods tighten up your brakes. If not, you should check your brake fluid and have the brakes serviced to ensure your car is safe, especially if you’re having difficulty stopping.
Since you take great care of your car, consider a roadside assistance membership with
Jerry
to keep it safe.
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