. You might not think much of just a little squeal, but those little sounds and related vibrations can add up to a fantastic deal of money in repairs later if left unchecked. Knowing how disc brakes and drum brakes work is very important for car owners, if for no other reason than to understand why they can quickly wear down if proper maintenance and driving techniques aren’t applied.
How brakes work-brake basics
Understanding the mechanism is where brake basics start. When your foot depresses the brake pedal, a plunger in the master cylinder forces brake fluid through tubes and into the braking unit that is attached to each of your car’s wheels. With common disc brakes, that fluid enters a caliper at the wheel and applies pressure to a piston. That piston then squeezes the brake pads against the disc (rotor) that is attached to the side of the wheel. In drum brakes, the fluid enters the wheel cylinder and pushes brake shoes outward against the drum that is attached to the wheel. In both cases, the result is the car slows and eventually stops. Repeated brake applications cause a buildup of heat from friction, and these forces cause brake pads and other elements to wear down over time.
How worn out are your brakes?
There are numerous signs that indicate that car brakes are wearing out. As there is typically no set number of miles over which a set of brakes is designed to function, a driver must remain observant and make a brake check part of their regular auto maintenance routine. Consult your owner’s manual for more information on suggested maintenance schedules, but in general, watch for cues and keep your service records. Some brakes may last for only a year if they’re cheap or you habitually stomp on your brakes instead of easing into stops. Nevertheless, higher quality brakes mixed with gentle driving techniques can extend the life of a set of brakes by a lot.
Why not wait to fix brakes?
Living with speaks, squeals and grinding is going to lead to damaged rotors, drums and calipers. Replacing all of these parts can run a repair bill as high as $ 1,000 or more. However, catching a brake problem early might only require new brake shoes or a simple resurfacing of the shoes you already have. For replacing everything, it will most likely be only a tenth of the cost.
Brakes will fail leading to accident or injury. As Click and Clack of “Car Talk” put it, don’t make your mechanic’s next boat payment. Prevent it early within the game.
Brake basics of dysfunction – Signs to recognize
Do you see a flashing brake warning light? How about squealing or grinding sounds? These are warning signs. If the steering wheel or brake pedal shakes when braking, be warned. If your car pulls one way or the other and needs a lot more time to stop, you’ve just one more reason than ever to take your car in to a mechanic. You are able to conserve money and your life.
Citations:
Car Talk
cars.cartalk.com/content/advice/brakes.html
Family Car Parts
familycar.com/brakes.htm
Do your brakes feel spongy whenever you stop? Time to bleed them!
youtube.com/watch?v=LgxMfQUMdJY
