The safety of your car is vital, whether it’s a Mercedes or a Mazda, even the safest vehicle in the world can have brake failure. If your car’s brakes are not working properly, the consequences could be fatal. Therefore, the brakes are probably the most important part of your vehicle. It is always good to be knowledgeable about auto brake repair because you never know if or when your car’s brake system will fail you. If this happens while driving, say in the desert, miles away from the nearest garage, you should be able to
- Do a brake inspection and fix the problem
- Learn what it takes to repair car brakes
- If possible, do the repair yourself.
- If not, describe the problem to someone who can fix your car’s brakes.
In order to do the job mentioned above, the first thing you need to know is how a car’s brake system works.
HAS drum system it is using hydraulic pressure to press a pad against a brake drum to slow the vehicle. Is that how it works:
- press the brake pedal
- the piston in the master cylinder sends pressure through the brake lines held by the brake shoe to the wheel cylinders inside the brake drum
- the friction caused by the shoe pressed against the drum prevents the wheel from turning
A brake drum is a heavy, flat-topped cylinder, typically located somewhere between the wheel rim and the drive wheel. When you press the brake pedal, the friction material held by the brake shoes is pressed against the brake drum. This will slow down the rotation of the wheels. A wheel cylinder contains pistons that use the hydraulic power of the master cylinder to force the brake pads against the brake drum.
Another brake system, called disc brake system you are using hydraulic pressure to press a pad against the rotor. This slows down the vehicle. Is that how it works:
- press the brake pedal
- the piston in the master cylinder is activated and sends pressure through the brake lines to the caliper
- when the pad makes contact with the rotor, friction is created and this prevents the wheel from turning
A rotor is nothing more than a circular plate that the brake pads attach to in order to slow down the vehicle. A brake pad is a pad made of friction material. When pressed against the rotor, it prevents the wheel from turning. This pad is supported by the caliper, which extends to either side of the rotor using hydraulic pressure from the brake lines. With the help of internal pistons it forces the brake pads against the rotors.
When performing this process, the braking system needs brake fluid. The master cylinder provides this by distributing brake fluid under pressure throughout your vehicle’s brake system.
The above description gives you the knowledge of how two different car brake systems work. These are the first things to know when troubleshooting and fixing any brake-related issues on your vehicle. Brake problems can occur in a Cadillac, a VW, or even the safest brand of vehicle. There are many free resources online that give you step-by-step instructions on how to fix any brake problem your vehicle may have. I recommend that you go online and do a search for ‘auto brake repair’. You’ll be amazed at the list of brake repair resources that will appear in seconds.