Brake System
Haven't we all had a moment where we are driving in our cars, blasting
Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" while attempting to do the dance at the same time, when suddenly the car in front of you stops short and you slam on your brakes with an inch of room to spare? Well maybe that was just me, but we've all had close encounters where our brakes saved our lives. That's why understanding and maintaining your car's brake system is so vital. Here's a crash course guide to your brake system, which might prevent you from getting swindled by a surly mechanic.
The Brake System in a Nutshell
Not all of us speak "car" very well so this is how a brake system works in the simplest of terms.
* The
plunger in the master cylinder.
* The plunger releases
hoses to your brakes.
* Fluid is sent to your
piston.
* The piston then squeezes two
disk rotor.
* The rotor is attached to the wheel and this is what causes your wheels to stop moving.
A Little More Detail
Now let's go into a little more detail about the main components of your system.
* '''Disk Brakes''' brake'>parking brake to a drum brake).
** Brake pads will wear with time and need to be periodically replaced. Usually you will hear a lot of squeaking. The better the quality, the longer they will last and the better they will stop.
** Every time you get new pads, your rotor must be smoothed out to have even contact with the pads. There is only so much you can take off the rotor, so you'll eventually have to replace that as well.
* '''Drum Brakes''' shoes'>brake shoes, which will also wear in time.
** A
backing plate holds all the components of the drum brake together. They rarely have problems.
** A
wheel cylinder has two pistons which connect to the brake shoe. If there are signs of leakage, the cylinder will need to be replaced.
**
Return springs pull the brake shoe back to their resting position after pressure is released.
* '''Power Brake Booster''' booster'>power brake booster is located behind the master cylinder and is connected to the brake pedal.
** Its job is to boost the amount of pressure you place on the brake so the car will stop without you increasing the pressure you place on the pedal.
* '''Antilock brakes will make sure your brakes don't lock up when you slam on the brakes.
** They also allow you to continue steering, which isn't possible on cars without ABS.
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Wheel Cylinders
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Brake System ABS Sensors
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Automotive Steering System
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Replacement Parts
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New Cars Buying Guide
