Information It Is Advisable To Find Out About Brakes

A friction pad is placed against the disc and used to brake any vehicle. The friction of the pad against the disc causes heat to spread out over the brake disc, causing the car to slow. This is also true for brake drums that have the brake shoe pressing against them. The brake drums heat up, causing the car to slow down again.

Starting under your foot the pressure you apply to the brake pedal is transferred to the brake servo, this utilises engine power to increase the pressure and ensuring you can still feel your leg after a long journey!


How does the pressure transfer to the friction pads (brake)? Well the secret is brake fluid - this is contained in a brake pipe that runs from the servo to the brakes. Fluid used in cables would need constant adjustment because of stretching due to heat and constant usage.


The brake discs dissipate heat from the pads. Ventilated brake discs provide better heat dissipation and more efficient cooling. Drilled and vented discs increase the air ratio, prevent a build up of gases and keep the pads in a clean condition. You can fit larger discs to improve the braking performance of high-performance cars, but you might need to use different wheels.


Brake pads are obviously an essential part in stopping your car and the higher the friction the better the performance. The fast road pads offer a compromise between racing and standard pads, with some generating zero. Your driving style and driving habits will have a significant impact on how the pads and discs wear.


ABS helps to prevent lockups under heavy braking and allows you to steer the car but steering will reduce the braking efficiency as the ABS cuts in more.


Brake Upgrades

Braided hoses made of stainless steel resist bending and loss of pressure at the pad ends. They also look better and theoretically last longer. Get a complete set and do both the front and the back.


There are many ways to upgrade your car's braking system. The fitting of bigger discs is an upgrade that could be a fairly simple option. For example, if you have a family car with small discs, you can visit your local breaker to get parts or order online for a performance version. Small cars usually share the same brake parts than their larger brothers and just a small amount of research could turn up some surprises.


General Care of Your Brake System

You should inspect your brakes at least once a year. Check your brake pads and discs for wear. The discs should not have a ridge on the edge due to excessive wear, thin discs can warp under immense heat conditions. You should check your pads for wear, as they can eat into your discs.


The level of brake fluid should be checked at least once a year, but not more than twice a year.


One point to make is to test your brakes by applying them after driving through standing water to remove the water and grease build up.


I hope that you found this useful. It's important to pay attention to your brakes in order to safely stop your car.


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