Learning About the Mechanisms That Require Brake Repair

The brake system of an automobile consists of several different parts that span the entire bottom frame of the vehicle and attach to each wheel. Acquiring a basic understanding of how it functions can help ease your mind when you inevitably find yourself in need of a brake repair.

The only part most non-mechanics ever come in contact with is the brake pedal, but much more goes on after you put your foot down. Power brakes allow the driver to stop a moving vehicle using minimal strength from the driver's foot. This is made possible by the brake booster. The brake booster uses vacuum power to multiply the push of your foot by a great amount. The brake booster can be found under the hood near the engine, which is what gives it the vacuum boost.

This pressure is then applied to the master cylinder. The brake system on most vehicles relies on hydraulic power. The push of the pedal triggers brake fluid to be released into the master cylinder, which then applies hydraulic pressure through each one of the four hydraulic brake lines that extend to each wheel.

One problem big enough to set off your brake warning light involves the master cylinder. If it happens to spring a leak, it will not be able to generate enough pressure to stop the car. Obviously, this can escalate quickly into an emergency situation, which is why it is important to immediately bring your car in for a brake repair as soon as the light appears.

Fluid passes through each of the brake lines and exerts pressure on the brake caliper, sending it into action. The caliper is the piece that causes the brake pads to pinch down and stop the wheel. The brake pads are the parts that most commonly send people in for a brake repair. They wear down and need to be replaced every so often depending on your driving habits and the type of pads installed in your car.

The brake pads clamp down on the brake disc, a circular metal piece located at the center of each tire, until the tire stops spinning. This is what ultimately causes your vehicle to stop.

Worn down brake pads cause more problems than just slower stops. If the pad has eroded too much, the metal parts within the wheel will grind against each other and produce a squealing or screeching noise. This metal-on-metal friction can cause serious damage to the parts and will require much more expensive brake repair than simply replacing the brake pads.

This basic knowledge should be enough to help you walk into your local repair shop confident rather than clueless the next time your brakes are on the fritz.