| How to Check Brake Pads Posted: 05 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST It's incredibly important that you occasionally check your brake pads for wear and tear. Worn brake pads are unsafe and prevent your car from coming to a quick halt. Those living in an urban environment will have to replace their pads more often than those in rural areas.[1] If you notice symptoms of worn brake pads, you can do a rough estimate with a straw, or you can do a more precise measurement by taking off the wheel. If you notice that your brake pads are worn down, you should replace them as soon as you can. EditRecognizing Symptoms of Worn Brake Pads - Listen to your brakes as you come to a stop. Many brakes have squealers installed on them which will indicate when your brake pads start to wear thin. These squealers will let out a loud, high-pitched sound when your brake pads get too thin.[2]
- You can see if your brakes have squealers by taking off the wheel. It will be a small tab of metal next to your pads.
- Feel your brakes as you come to a stop. If you push the brake down to the floor but your car doesn't come to an immediate stop, your brake pads might be worn down.[3]
- Check for a pulsating or vibrating brake pedal. A pulsating or vibrating brake pedal may mean your rotors are warped. A mechanic will be able to better evaluate the issue.[4]
- Determine whether your car pulls to one side when you stop. Pulling to one side as you come to a stop is an indication that one side of the brakes are more worn than the other side. If you notice your car pulling to one side when you press the brake pedal, check that side's front tire and make sure that the brake pad isn't worn down.[5]
- Get a professional to inspect your rear brakes. Some older cars and rear brake systems may have brake shoes instead of pads. These are cylindric metal rings that fit around your wheel's rotors. If you suspect that your brake shoes are bad, you should take your car to a mechanic so that they can inspect them.[6]
- The exterior "braking material" (usually made of metal) should measure the same thickness on both sides. You can take measurements of the material with a ruler.
- Rear brake shoes are good for and can last twice as long as your front brakes.
EditEstimating Brake Pad Thickness with a Drinking Straw - Look in between the spokes and locate the rotor on the front brakes. If you look in between the holes in your tire you can see the rotor, which is the round metal part that your rubber wheel fits over. Many vehicles will have drum brakes on the rear wheels, which have brake shoes rather than brake pads.[7]
- Find the caliper next to the rotor. Find the long metal piece pressing up against the rotor. The large metal piece clamped to the side of the rotor is called the brake caliper. If you look inside of the caliper you should see a rubber lining. This rubber lining is your brake pads.
- This method is less accurate than taking your wheel off and measuring the brake pads.
- Make sure your car has been turned off for a while or it may still be hot.
- Push a straw in between the brake caliper and rotor. Shove a straw in between the caliper and the rotor. Continue pushing the straw until the straw hits the brake disc and comes to a stop.[8]
- Use a vernier caliper to get a more accurate reading. A vernier caliper is a measuring tool that's able to measure in small spaces where a ruler can't reach. Stick the end of the vernier caliper through the hole and read the top of the tool to get a measurement for your brake pads.
- You can purchase a vernier caliper at a hardware or automotive store or online.
- Make a line on the straw with a pen and measure it. Use a marker to make a line where the straw and brake pad meet. Use a ruler or tape measure to measure the space between the end of the straw and your line. This will give you an approximation for how thick your brake pads are.[9]
- Subtract from the number. The brake pad backing plate is about -thick, so you must subtract it from your number to get the accurate width of the brake pads. Your brake pads should be at least -thick after you subtract .[10]
- Replace your brake pads if they are under -thick. A new brake pad is usually around -thick. Once it has worn half-way, you have to replace it soon. Brake pads that are -thick should be immediately replaced and aren't safe to drive on.[11]
EditMeasuring Your Brake Pads by Taking off the Wheel - Jack up your car. Find the jack point on the front of your car and place the jack under it. The jack point is usually right behind the front wheel. Pump the handle to raise your car's wheel off the ground. Jack your car up on the side that you want to examine.[12]
- If you've never used a jack on your car, get help from someone who has instead of doing it yourself.
- Remove your wheel. Loosen and remove the bolts by turning them counterclockwise with a lug or torque wrench. Once the wheel is loose, pull it off the rotor. You should now see the brake rotor and caliper. The caliper is a metal piece that fits over your wheel's disc.[13]
- You can remove most tire bolts with a lug or torque wrench.
- Locate the brake pads. Look into the hole in the caliper to see your brake pads. They will look like two sheets of rubber pressed against each other. While your tire is off you can see both internal and external brake pads. Measure both sides of the brake pads.[14]
- Use a compass to measure the brake pads. Since it's a small space, it may be difficult to measure the pads because they are deep within the caliper. In this case, use a compass to measure the width of each side of the brake pads. Position one prong of the compass on the left side of the pad and position the other prong on the right side of the pad. Measure the space in between the prongs on the compass to get a measurement for your brake pads.[15]
- Replace the pad if it's under -thick. If your brake pads are -thick it means that they need to replaced soon. If they are -thick or less, they need to be replaced immediately and could cause permanent damage to your rotors.[16]
EditThings You'll Need - Straw
- vernier caliper (optional)
- Marker
- Ruler
- Compass
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Keep Your Bank Account Information Secure Posted: 05 Dec 2017 08:00 AM PST With hacks and data breaches making headlines almost every week, it's more important now than ever to take steps to keep your bank account information secure. While your bank keeps your information safe, it's important that you also take action to safeguard this information and protect your account information from falling into the wrong hands. EditKeeping Your Account Number Secure - Avoid writing checks if your account has them. While once the most common method of paying people or merchants for purchases, every check that is written contains everything needed for a fraudster to compromise your account, including your name, account number, and bank routing number.
- Use a P2P (person to person) payment service to pay other people when you owe them money. Many banks offer this service at no cost for their customers.
- Use debit or credit cards to pay merchants rather than writing checks. The account number on your debit and credit cards is not the same as your bank account number and can easily be replaced without impacting your bank account if they are lost, stolen, or compromised.
- Sign up for electronic payments via ACH for recurring payments such as your mortgage or rent payment, credit card payments, utility bills, etc.
- Sign up to receive electronic statements instead of paper statements. Although your account number is generally masked on your statement, there is still risk of paper statements being lost in the mail or being intercepted by a fraudster. You can mitigate this risk by receiving electronic statements.
- This service is offered by most banks at no cost. In some cases, you may even be able to avoid paper statement fees by signing up to receive your statements electronically. Check with your bank to learn how to sign up.
- Shred old documents that you don't need anymore. Keep in mind that you don't need to keep your bank account statements forever.
- Your bank can provide old copies of statements for several years if you need a copy later for some reason, or you may be able to access this information through your online banking.
- Keep any documents that contain your account information in a secure location such as a safe or locked drawer. If you have paper statements that you need to keep, or even your account agreement from when you opened the account, keep this information in a safe place.
EditKeeping Access to Your Account Secure - Use strong passwords and security questions for your online and mobile banking access. Avoid falling into a trap of using the same password for multiple logins as this will make your account more susceptible to a fraudster.
- Use biometric logins if your bank offers them. Biometric logins include finger print (such as Touch ID) or facial recognition. Banks are increasingly relying on biometric recognition as fraud trends continue to rise.
- Never provide your bank account login information to anyone for any reason, including your bank or law enforcement. Once another person has your login information, the door is opened to unauthorized activity.
- Keep in mind that your bank will never need to ask you for your login information because they already have this information on file. Sometimes scammers will pose as someone from your bank with the hope of phishing for your account information. If you suspect this is happening, hang up immediately and contact your bank.
- If law enforcement, or someone stating they are law enforcement, asks for your information, this is likely a scam. Police or other agencies will subpoena your bank for this information if they need to rather than contacting you directly.
- Keep your phone and computer locked when you are not using them. Use biometric locks for your phone and computer, if possible. Otherwise consider using traditional passcode or password locks.
- By utilizing these features, you are adding another security layer between a potential fraudster and your sensitive bank account information.
- Avoid accessing your online or mobile banking from unsecure WiFi hotspots such as coffee shops, airports, and hotels. There is more risk of your information being intercepted when you use these types of connections.
- Disconnect from unsecure WiFi and login using cellular data if you need to access your account information. Remember, if other people know the login (or there is no login) to the WiFi hotspot, then other people may be able to intercept your login information.
- If you are unable to use biometric logins, change your passwords on a regular basis.
- Keep your phone and computer operating systems up to date. Oftentimes these updates include important security updates that help to keep your personal information secure.
- Use caution when downloading apps that request access your online banking login. While there are some legitimate apps that help with budgeting, etc., similar apps can be created by fraudsters with the intention of stealing your account information.
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| How to Slow Cook Healthy Meals Posted: 05 Dec 2017 12:00 AM PST The slow cooker is a great tool for making healthy, delicious meals that require few ingredients and minimal effort. While most recipes for the slow cooker are relatively simple and straightforward, you can make certain modifications while cooking to ensure that you're making healthy meals. Using healthy ingredients and techniques that allow you to make the most of your slow cooker's utility, you can use your slow cooker to easily prepare a variety of healthy meals. EditIngredients EditChicken with Carrots and Potatoes - Cooking spray
- of sliced onion
- of chopped carrots
- 6 small red potatoes cut into slices.
- of chicken broth
- of white wine
- of chopped fresh thyme
- of minced garlic
- of salt
- of pepper
- of paprika
- 6 6-oz bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
- Yields 6 servings
EditVeggie Stuffed Peppers - 6 bell peppers
- of quinoa, rinsed
- 1 14-oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14-oz can of refried beans
- of red enchilada sauce
- of cumin
- of chili powder
- of onion powder
- of garlic salt
- of pepperjack cheese
- of water
- Yields 6 servings
EditHearty Beef Stew - of beef stew meat
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 can (14.5 oz) of beef broth
- 1 can (11.5 oz) of V8 juice
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
- 3 bay leaves
- of salt
- of dried thyme
- of chili powder
- of pepper
- of cold water
- of cornstarch
- of frozen corn
- of frozen peas
- Yields 5 servings
EditReplacing Ingredients with Healthier Options - Opt for reduced sodium broths. Many recipes for slow cooked meals will call for beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Substitute low sodium for regular broths for an overall healthier dish.[1]
- Choose lean, low-fat cuts of meat. When cooking healthy meals in your slow cooker, opt for low fat cuts of meat, including chuck or eye round beef roasts, pork loins, and skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Trim any excess fat from these cuts before adding them to your slow cooker.[2]
- Eliminate sugar from recipes. Any added sugar to slow cooked meals will pack on the calories without nutritional value. If a recipe calls for added sugar or for any high-sugar processed ingredients, such as ketchup or barbecue sauce, opt for a lower-calorie substitute.
- Try making your own low-sugar barbecue sauce, or buy an alternative with no added sugar.
- Use Stevia as a low-calorie alternative to sugar.
- Incorporate apples into savory dishes for a lower-calorie flavor enhancer. Apples can add sweet, delicious undertones to slow cooked dishes like beef or pork loin roasts without the high sugar content of other sweetening ingredients.[3]
- Avoid cream- or cheese-based soups, sauces, and dips. When you're using a slow cooker, avoid recipes that call for cream- or cheese-based soups, sauces, and dips to avoid excess fat and calories. Opt for broth-based recipes, instead.
- Add minimal amounts of butter or olive oil to recipes. It's fine to incorporate fats into your dishes so long as you don't go overboard. Measure out of oil or butter to ensure that you're not adding an excessive amount of fat to your meal.[4]
EditChicken with Carrots and Potatoes - Coat your slow cooker with cooking spray and add onions, carrots, and potatoes. Use of sliced onion, of chopped carrots, and 6 small red potatoes cut into slices.[5]
- Add chicken broth, white wine, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use of chicken broth, of white wine, of chopped fresh thyme, of minced garlic, of salt, and of pepper. Combine the ingredients then pour them over the vegetables.[6]
- Substitute the white wine with another of chicken broth, if desired.
- Mix paprika, salt, and pepper and rub it over the chicken. Use of paprika, of salt, and of pepper. Mix thoroughly then use the spices to coat 6 6-oz skinless chicken thighs (bone-in).[7]
- Add chicken to oil-coated skillet and cook for 3 minutes on each side. Use medium-high heat and cook until the chicken is browned. Then, arrange the chicken on top of the veggies in the slow cooker.[8]
- Cover and cook on low heat for 3 1/2 hours. Make sure the chicken is cooked to and the vegetables are tender when speared with a fork. Then, serve the dish and enjoy![9]
EditVeggie Stuffed Peppers - Cut the tops off of 6 bell peppers and scrape out the seeds. Take care to remove only the stem from the top as you need plenty of room to stuff your peppers with delicious ingredients. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and the ribs of the pepper.[10]
- Combine quinoa, beans, and enchilada sauce in a bowl. First, rinse of quinoa then drain and rinse 1 14-oz can of black beans separately. Then, dump the quinoa and black beans in a large bowl and add 1 14-oz can of refried beans and of red enchilada sauce.[11]
- Add spices and of pepperjack cheese to the mixture. Use each of cumin, chili powder, and onion powder, and of garlic salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.[12]
- Stuff each pepper and place them in the cooker with of water. Use a large spoon to fill each pepper with the mixture. Pour of water into the bottom of the crockpot, then carefully place the peppers in the pot so they're sitting in the water.[13]
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Alternatively, you can cook the peppers on high for 3 hours, if desired.[14]
- Take off the lid, add cheese, recover, and cook for 5 minutes. After you take off the lid, sprinkle the remaining of pepperjack cheese on top of the stuffing. Replace the lid and let the peppers cook for another 5 minutes to melt the cheese.[15]
- Remove the peppers, top them, and serve. Use tongs to remove the peppers from the slow cooker so as not to burn your fingers. Top them with cilantro, avocado, and sour cream, then serve them.[16]
EditHearty Beef Stew - Put of beef stew meat and 2 peeled, cubed potatoes in a slow cooker. You may want to use a slow cooker liner to cut down on mess and clean up time. You can find them in supermarkets and online.[17]
- Pour in 1 can (14.5 oz) of beef broth and 1 can (11.5 oz) of V8 juice. Use low-sodium V8 juice, containing tomato and carrot juice, rather than a fruit-based flavor. Opt for a low-sodium variety of beef broth to make the dish healthier.[18]
- Add celery, carrots, sweet onion, and bay leaves. Chop 2 celery ribs, 2 medium carrots, and 1 medium sweet onion. Put them in the slow cooker along with 3 bay leaves.[19]
- Sprinkle in salt, dried thyme, chili powder, and pepper. Add each of salt, dried thyme, and chili powder and of pepper. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until everything is well combined and the meat is coated.[20]
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, then discard the bay leaves. Check to make sure the meat is tender before proceeding. If it's not, cook for another hour or so and check the tenderness again.[21]
- Combine water and cornstarch then stir the mixture into the stew. Mix of cold water and of cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth and well mixed. Then add the mixture to the stew.[22]
- Add corn and peas and cook on high for 30 minutes. Mix of frozen corn and of frozen peas into the stew. You don't need to replace the lid, as you want the stew to thicken. After 30 minutes, turn off the slow cooker, mix the stew, and serve it.[23]
- You can leave meals in a slow cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours. Most slow cookers include timers that will switch over to a "keep warm" setting after an allotted time.
- If you start a meal in a slow cooker then head out for work or another activity, add a little extra water to account for evaporation.
EditSources and Citations
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