When it comes to saving money on your vehicle, one thing it pays to know are your brake basics. You might not think much of a little squeal here or there as you bring your automobile to a stop, but they can add up to a great deal of money in repairs later if left unchecked. Knowing how disc brakes and drum brakes work is very important for each and every car owner, if for no other reason than to understand why they can quickly wear down if proper maintenance and driving techniques are not applied.
Source of article: Know your brake basics to stay away from big repair bills by Car Deal Expert
How brakes work-brake basics
Brake basics really begin with an understanding of it. When your foot depresses the brake pedal, a plunger within the master cylinder forces brake fluid through tubes and into the braking unit attached to each of your car’s wheels. With common disc brakes, that fluid enters a caliper that is at the wheel and then applies pressure to a piston. That piston squeezes the brake pads against the disc (rotor) 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 that the car slows and eventually stops. Repeated brake applications can sometimes cause a buildup of heat from friction, and these forces cause brake pads and other elements to wear down over time.
How worn out are your brakes?
You will find signs to indicate car breaks wearing. As there is typically no set number of miles over which a set of brakes is intended to function, a driver must make a brake check part of their regular auto maintenance routine. Consult your owner’s manual for some data on suggested maintenance schedules, but you can just watch for cues and keep your service records. Some brakes may last for only a year if they’re cheap or you habitually stomp on your brakes rather than easing into stops. Higher quality brakes mixed with gentle driving techniques can extend the life of a set of brakes by as much as a few years.
Why shouldn’t you wait to get your brakes fixed?
Living with speaks, squeals and grinding is going to lead to damaged rotors, drums and calipers. This can cost $ 1,000 or more. Catching a brake problem early might only require new brake shoes or a simple resurfacing of the shoes you already have. That might come out to only a tenth of the cost for replacing everything.
Ultimately, brakes will fail, which can result in accident, injury and even death. As Click and Clack of “Car Talk” put it, don’t make your mechanic’s next boat payment. Prevent it early in the game.
Brake basics of dysfunction and signs to recognize
Do you see a flashing brake warning light? How about squealing or grinding sounds? These are some of the warning signs. If the steering wheel or brake pedal shakes when braking, be warned. If your car pulls one way and requires more time to stop, you have more reason than ever to take your car in to a mechanic. Save your life and money.
More details about this topic at these websites:
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
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