Brake maintenance is an essential aspect of car care and repair. A well-functioning brake system ensures safety and decreases future maintenance costs.
Many different components make up the brake system of your vehicle. Knowing what they are and how they work is essential to understanding the importance of keeping these working correctly.
Brake Pads
Your car’s brake pads contain a sacrificial friction material that grabs hold of the rotors (or drums in older cars) to slow and stop your vehicle. The friction created between the rotor and pad creates heat that eventually wears away the place, so you must replace it to continue stopping your car safely.
Your driving habits and environmental factors impact how quickly your brake pads wear. Aggressive driving behavior like hard braking, riding the brakes, or frequent stops cause your pads to wear down faster than usual. Driving in hilly or mountainous areas can also accelerate wear on your pillows.
Fortunately, your car’s brake pads are designed to alert you when they’re getting low. If you ignore this warning and allow your brake pads to wear down completely, your vehicle will begin grinding against the rotors, which is dangerous and expensive to repair. Regular brake maintenance prevents this from happening and saves you money in the long run.
Brake Rotors
When you apply the brakes, the brake pads clamp down on the rotors attached to your wheels. The rotors then create friction to slow down and stop your vehicle. Over time, the constant pressure and heat can cause your rotors to wear down. If left unchecked, this can lead to rotor damage and costly repairs.
Regular inspections can help you identify when your rotors are beginning to wear out. Squealing and grinding noises are indicators that your brake pads have worn down to the point where they are causing damage to your rotors.
Your car’s rotors can be machined or resurfaced to restore their smoothness and braking performance. Your brake repair technician can help you decide whether this is suitable for your vehicle and rotor condition. They will also measure the rotor for its minimum thickness specification. Then they will use specialized equipment to ensure the rotor has a uniform surface free of imperfections.
Brake Lines
Most brake maintenance is focused on the car’s pads and rotors, which rub together to slow and stop the vehicle. But the rest of the braking system also needs regular attention. The rotors can wear down to dangerous levels if the pads aren’t replaced, and the brake lines can get damaged or corrupted over time. The master cylinder, calipers, and related components also require a steady supply of pressure-building brake fluid flushed and replaced during brake repair Edmonds WA to prevent leaks or failure.
The critical component of any braking system is its hydraulic fluid, which transfers the force of your foot on the pedal to clamping devices that squeeze a pair of metal discs attached to your wheels. This creates friction that slows and stops your car. Leaking brake fluid or a spongy pedal feel may indicate it is time for service. A quick inspection can prevent significant problems down the road.
Brake Cylinders
A car’s brake system relies on more than a simple pedal on the floor. Several working factors must come together to stop the vehicle on a dime, and each scenario requires routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs.
A key component is the master cylinder, which transfers pressure through lines to the calipers and brake discs. A brake cylinder with leaks or seal problems can cause a soft, squishy feel to the brake pedal.
A service professional will also check the condition of the brake fluid, which can deteriorate over time due to heat and moisture. This can lead to a milky or cloudy quality, which indicates it is time for a replacement. Air in the brake line can also decrease efficiency, and a service professional may flush and bleed the brake system to remove air buildup. This can help prevent brake failure and improve stopping power.