Dear Tom and Ray:

I think I have the best of all possible cars, a 1989 750iL BMW. I recently had my rear brakes repaired. In doing so, the BMW shop said I would need new pads and rotors. The problem is I don't believe they ever removed the rear wheels to check. In questioning this, I was told "on this car, we can check the rear brakes without removing the wheels." Is this possible? Bill

Tom: Yes, it is. You CAN see the pads and rotors on a lot of cars without taking the wheels off. And you can usually tell if the pads are worn out or the rotors are chewed and pitted.

Ray: There are things you probably won't be able to see without removing the wheels--like a brake fluid leak or a seized caliper piston. But if they're just looking at pads and rotors, the answer is yes, they can tell.

Tom: But I definitely understand your skepticism, Bill. My brother used to tell customers that they needed a new transmission after simply laying his hands on the car's hood. If I remember correctly, it was the Attorney General who made him cut that out.

Tom and Ray share secrets mechanics don't want you to know in their pamphlet Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1996 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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