Everything Belleville, IL Car Owners Should Know
The Scoop on Brakes
APPLY THE BRAKES! Every new driver hears these words at least once. The savior of most minor accidents. How much do you actually know about brakes though? Well, if your knowledge is small on this topic, don’t fret! We have so much to tell you!
What are brakes? Brakes are the best part about your vehicle. Need to slow down, or even execute an emergency stop? Brake, check. Most of our newer brake systems operate with fluid. This means when the brake pedal is pushed, hydraulic fluid is the main character into the pressure that forces your car to stop.
Brakes ideally are stopping the energy that is causing your car to drive forward or backward, it is putting a block in that force and breaking up the energy, in turn stopping your vehicle.
There are many parts to this system that make the brakes work, continue reading to learn about how to keep them squeaky clean!
Different Types of Brakes
There are two different types of brakes that you should know about. Disc Brakes and Drum Brakes. So, what is the difference you may ask?
Disc Brakes make friction with the use of a thin circular brake disc and a caliper. These brakes are better than Drum Brakes because it is easier for a Drum Brake to give out on you when it is being overused. The reason this does not happen to Disc Brakes is they are exposed to air, and this is great because they won’t be able to capture heat in like the other.
Drum Brakes may not be as safe as Disc Brakes, but they are less expensive, and they were the most common brake system in vehicles during the earlier years. The Drum Brakes works with the help of a round drum, brake shoes, and heat-resistant material.
Each work in their own way and do what they are supposed to, it is just a matter of how they are taken care of!
So now that you know about each brake, let’s learn how to keep them intact.
Important Upkeep of The Brake System
You should always schedule a routine brake inspection. This is important because, as time goes by, your brakes end up wearing down. Eventually, your brakes won’t be as helpful as they once were before. Having your brakes checked by your local automotive is always a good idea, as they will be able to see if you need any part of your brake system replaced. It is sometimes very hard to tell when there is an issue with a certain part of your brake, which is why getting them inspected is always a good idea.
Some parts that go into a brake system that you may want to know:
- Brake Fluid
- Brake Shoes
- Brake Drums
- Brake Pads
- Brake Rotors