There are so many aspects to a car’s brake system that something about brakes can be described by each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. Learning more about your vehicle’s brakes can help you to be able to intelligently discuss brake repair with your local mechanic.
Brake systems and repair can be confusing and frustrating encounters for those uneducated about their vehicles. Just like learning the alphabet is foundational to reading,
knowing these ABCs can help you learn the basics about brakes and brake repair.
“A” is for “anti-lock braking system,” or ABS, which allows for traction, thereby preventing skidding.
“B” is for “brake pads.” The material from these pads create somewhat of a liquid boundary to friction, providing brake force.
“C” is for “caliper.” The brake caliper assembly consists of brake pads and pistons.
“D” is for “discs,” or “rotors,” which are connected to wheels or the axles.
“E” is for “emergency brake assist,” the electronic function of the ABS.
“F” is for “fuel efficiency.” Floating calipers can succumb to sticking failure, which can result in overly worn brake pads and reduced fuel efficiency.
“G” is for “gas pedal,” which should not be confused with the nearby brake pedal; it has the opposite effect.
“H” is for “hydraulic,” the types of circuits that help multiply the braking force applied to the brake pedal.
“I” is for “infrequent sticking” of the brakes, which can result from infrequent vehicle use.
“J” is for “judder,” also called “brake shudder.” To the driver, this feels like vibrations during braking.
“K” is for “keylar.” Newer brake pads are often made of ceramics or plastics, such as keylar.
“L” is for “linings.”Like brake pads, early linings include asbestos, so breathing brake dust from older cars can be especially dangerous.
“M” is for “mechanic.” This is the person who can help you with any of your brake repair needs.
“N” is for “needing replacement.” The part of the brakeforce assembly most commonly needing replacement would be the pads.
“O” is for “opposing pistons.” Fixed calipers use these kinds of pairs to clamp the disc sides.
“P” is for “pistons.” Along with the brake pads, these make up the brake caliper. Pistons push the inner brake pad until it makes contact with a braking surface.
“Q” is for “quieter.” Because vehicle designs are becoming quieter, the annoying sound of brake squeal is becoming easier to hear.
“R” is for “runout,” or misalignment of axis, which can cause disc thickness variation (DTV).
“S” is for “sensors” in brake pads to alert drivers when replacements are needed. Sometimes these cause squealing.
“T” is for “techniques” for reducing brake squeal. These include greasing, gluing, and bonding various parts of the caliper.
“U” is for “uneven thermal distributions,” or hot spots, which can be caused by friction. These can cause hazardous vibrations.
“V” is for “vibration,” one of the three main priorities in manufacturing brake systems today; noise and harshness are the other two.
“W” is for “wheels,” which slow down or stop, due to friction caused by applying your brakes.
“X” is for “xis,” which is “six” spelled backwards. Six is a common number of pistons or “pots” in a brake caliper.
“Y” is for “your brake system,” about which you probably know a lot more.
“Z” is the shape of the kind of skidding you want to avoid. By visiting your mechanic when you need brake repair, you can avoid making such zany stripes as you venture down the road.
