Brakes on any vehicle work with a friction pad placed against a disc with force.
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.
Start under your foot and apply pressure to the brake
pedal. This pressure is transferred to brake servo which uses engine power to
increase pressure.
How is the pressure transferred to the friction (brake)
pads? The secret to brake fluid is in the brake pipe, which runs from the servo
and 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 play an important role in stopping your car. The higher the friction,
the better it will perform. Fast road pads give a good compromise between
standard and racing pads with some generating zero pads. 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
Stainless steel braided hoses prevent any flexing and
therefore loss of pressure at the pad end, they also look nicer and
theoretically last longer too - get a full set and do the front and back at the
same time.
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. It is common for
small cars to share brake parts with their bigger brothers. A little bit of
research can lead to some surprising results.
General Care of Your Brake
System
You should inspect your brakes at least once a year. Start by
checking your pads and discs for wear and tear. The edge of the discs shouldn't
have a ridge due to excessive wear. Thin discs can crack under extreme heat
conditions. Check your pads for wear as they will eat into your discs when worn.
The level of brake fluid should be checked at least once a year, but not
more than twice a year.
It is important to check your brakes after you have
driven through standing water. This will help to eliminate any grease and water
buildup.
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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