When it comes to saving money on your automobile, one thing it pays to know are your brake basics. You might not think much of just a little squeal here or there as you bring your car to a stop, but those little sounds and related vibrations can add up to a great deal of money in repairs later if left unchecked. Knowing how disc brakes and drum brakes work is important for every car owner, if not for other things than to understand why they can easily wear down if proper maintenance and driving techniques aren’t applied.
Brake basics – How brakes work
Brake basics start with an understanding of the mechanism. When your foot depresses the brake pedal, a plunger in the master cylinder forces brake fluid through tubes and to 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 squeezes the brake pads against the disc that is attached to the wheel. In drum brakes, the fluid enters the wheel cylinder and pushes brake shoes outward against the drum that is actually attached to the wheel. 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 – your brakes?
Car breaks wearing is indicated by many signs. As there is typically no set number of miles over which a set of brakes is intended 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 some details on suggested maintenance schedules, but in general, watch for cues and keep your service records. Some brakes last only a year if they’re cheap or you habitually stomp on your brakes instead of easing into stops. .
Why fix breaks without waiting?
Living with speaks will ultimately lead to damaged rotors, drums and calipers. This can cost $ 1,000 or more. However, catching a brake problem early might require new brake shoes or even a simple resurfacing of the shoes you already have. That’s probably only a tenth of the cost.
Brakes will fail leading to accident or injury. As Click and Clack of “Car Talk” explained it, don’t make your mechanic’s next boat payment. Early in the game you need to prevent it.
Is there a flashing brake warning light? How about squealing or grinding sounds? These are warning signs. If the brake pedal or steering wheel shakes whenever you brake, be warned. If your car pulls one way or the other and requires more time to stop, you’ve more reason than ever to take your car in to a mechanic. Conserve your life and money.
Discover more information:
Car Talk
cars.cartalk.com/content/advice/brakes.html
Family Car Parts
familycar.com/brakes.htm
Do your brakes feel spongy when you stop? Time to bleed them!
youtube.com/watch?v=LgxMfQUMdJY
