BrakesBrakes

Warning SignsWarning Signs Awareness is the key to avoid accidents and to ensure the safety of you Awareness is the key to avoid accidents and to ensure the safety of you

and those around you. This starts not on the road, but off the road, in and those around you. This starts not on the road, but off the road, in making sure you have a suitable vehicle. If you are a driver, making sure making sure you have a suitable vehicle. If you are a driver, making sure you have working brakes and knowing when to change them are you have working brakes and knowing when to change them are essential.essential.

The following are symptoms of brake problems The following are symptoms of brake problems that should not be ignored:that should not be ignored:

Brake pedal pumpingBrake pedal pumping Brakes that have trouble releasingBrakes that have trouble releasing Grinding noise while braking Grinding noise while braking Pulling of the car from one side to anotherPulling of the car from one side to another Squishy/Spongy Brake Pedals Squishy/Spongy Brake Pedals Squealing BrakesSquealing Brakes Sudden and hard brake pedalSudden and hard brake pedal Wheel Grabs Although the signs mentioned will Wheel Grabs Although the signs mentioned will

cause you to change other brake components, cause you to change other brake components, inspection of brake pads will reveal that they are inspection of brake pads will reveal that they are worn and in need of replacement.worn and in need of replacement.

Although the signs mentioned will cause you to change other brake Although the signs mentioned will cause you to change other brake components, inspection of brake pads will reveal that they are worn and components, inspection of brake pads will reveal that they are worn and in need of replacement.in need of replacement.

Why Inspect in the First Why Inspect in the First Place?Place?

Reasons why you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms:Reasons why you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms: Worn down brake shoes can basically cut down the Worn down brake shoes can basically cut down the

stopping power of your vehicle.stopping power of your vehicle. If you ignore brake problems now, it can lead to more If you ignore brake problems now, it can lead to more

expensive repairs.expensive repairs. If your rear brake shoes are worn, If your rear brake shoes are worn,

this will speed up front brake pad this will speed up front brake pad and disc wear, ultimately resulting and disc wear, ultimately resulting in delayed braking response and in delayed braking response and increased braking distances.increased braking distances.

Obviously, ignoring the problemObviously, ignoring the problem isn’t going to help, it’ll put you isn’t going to help, it’ll put you and those around you in danger and it’ll cost you and those around you in danger and it’ll cost you more the longer you wait!more the longer you wait!

What Now?What Now? Many garages offer free brake inspection, which is aMany garages offer free brake inspection, which is a

great way to confirm your findings.great way to confirm your findings. It would be a good idea to ask your mechanic for a It would be a good idea to ask your mechanic for a

complete overview on the brake system along with complete overview on the brake system along with an estimate of repairs and parts.an estimate of repairs and parts.

With the problem identified, your approach towards With the problem identified, your approach towards reaching the solution depends largely on three factors:reaching the solution depends largely on three factors: ExpertiseExpertise TimeTime WalletWallet

Now you have two options, you can either do it yourself or get someone you Now you have two options, you can either do it yourself or get someone you know to do it for you, thus saving money in labor costs, or you can get it fixed by know to do it for you, thus saving money in labor costs, or you can get it fixed by a mechanic.a mechanic.

Tips on getting parts:Tips on getting parts: You’ll be paying the highest by getting parts directly through your dealer.You’ll be paying the highest by getting parts directly through your dealer. It may be slightly cheaper to get parts from a national auto parts supply It may be slightly cheaper to get parts from a national auto parts supply

store.store. Getting parts online is the cheapest way, but make sure you’re buying from a Getting parts online is the cheapest way, but make sure you’re buying from a

reputable seller offering trusted brands. Be aware of those selling generic reputable seller offering trusted brands. Be aware of those selling generic parts overseas. Make sure you can return the purchase, preferably to an parts overseas. Make sure you can return the purchase, preferably to an address in the U.S.address in the U.S.

When to change your When to change your brakesbrakes

Most brakes will Most brakes will become obsolete become obsolete after you have ridden after you have ridden your car for your car for 35, 00035, 000 miles.miles.

If you still think that If you still think that your car does not your car does not needs its brakes needs its brakes changed… then just changed… then just go to a auto garage to go to a auto garage to get it thoroughly get it thoroughly checked.checked.

So How Do the Brakes So How Do the Brakes Work?Work?

What’s necessary to stop your vehicle?What’s necessary to stop your vehicle? Leverage Leverage Hydraulic Force Hydraulic Force Friction Friction

So how do they work together?So how do they work together? Leverage is supplied by the driver’s leg stepping on the pedalLeverage is supplied by the driver’s leg stepping on the pedal The pedal is connected to rods and levers to the power booster The pedal is connected to rods and levers to the power booster

which uses either a hydraulic pump or engine vacuum to which uses either a hydraulic pump or engine vacuum to multiply and transfer the force of that leverage to the master multiply and transfer the force of that leverage to the master cylinder.cylinder.

The master cylinder is the primary component to the vehicles The master cylinder is the primary component to the vehicles brake hydraulic system. Using the applied leverage it forces a brake hydraulic system. Using the applied leverage it forces a reservoir full of brake fluid through valves, steel lines and reservoir full of brake fluid through valves, steel lines and rubber hoses into hydraulic calipers and wheel cylinders. rubber hoses into hydraulic calipers and wheel cylinders.

That hydraulic pressure is then used to create frictionThat hydraulic pressure is then used to create friction

Disc Brakes and Disc Brakes and

Drum BrakesDrum Brakes Disc brakes use a Disc brakes use a

hydraulic caliper fitted hydraulic caliper fitted

with brake pads to grab with brake pads to grab

a spinning disc a spinning disc Drum brakes have a Drum brakes have a

hydraulic wheel cylinder hydraulic wheel cylinder

that pushes a brake shoe that pushes a brake shoe

against the inside of a against the inside of a

spinning drum. spinning drum.

AAnti-lock nti-lock BBrake rake SSystem?ystem? The The AAnti-lock nti-lock BBrake rake

SSystem is commonly ystem is commonly

used in today’s vehicles. used in today’s vehicles. It uses electronic It uses electronic

sensors and pumps sensors and pumps

with high pressure, to with high pressure, to

allow it to measure vehicle allow it to measure vehicle

speed, wheel slip and speed, wheel slip and

brake force to stop the brake force to stop the

vehicle during emergency vehicle during emergency

situations. situations.

SourcesSources

http://www.partsource.ca/http://www.partsource.ca/doityourself/TIPS_brakes.aspdoityourself/TIPS_brakes.asp

http://ezinearticles.com/?When-to-http://ezinearticles.com/?When-to-Replace-Brake-Pads&id=86954Replace-Brake-Pads&id=86954

http://www.midas.com/midas_u/http://www.midas.com/midas_u/brakes_howitworks.aspxbrakes_howitworks.aspx