Do you know how your brakes work?
Brakes 101
Just like your arm is connected to your shoulder, your vehicle’s brake system (which consists of rotors, drums, pads, shoes, calipers, wheel cylinders, hardware, brake fluid, etc) depends on each brake part to function properly & safely.
Just like the human body, brake parts wear out over time and when brakes wear out it’s time to service, repair, replace your brakes. Now let the learning begin.
Did you know?
When you press your vehicle’s brake pedal down, you are actually activating the brake cylinder that delivers the brake fluid to the brake calipers that then engage your brake pads. Which in return due to the hydraulic pressure created your brake pads then apply pressure to the brake rotors, creating the friction that is needed to bring your vehicle to a stop. This is basically how your brake system works hence brakes 101.
Your vehicle’s brake system is like a team that works together to perform one of if not the most important and critical functions of your vehicle, safe & on-point, stopping power.
What is a Last Chance Auto Repair brake inspection all about?
When it comes to our brake inspection you can count on our thoroughness and many years of proven service history to comprehensively analyze the situation in the most ethical and methodical way possible. After our brake inspection process is done we will inform you of the results, let you know the best plan of attack and then get on it accordingly.
A Last Chance Brake Inspection includes checking your brake:
- Brake Pads and or Shoes
- Brake Rotors and or Drums
- Brake Calipers, Pistons, Slides
- Brake Wheel Cylinders & Seals
- Brake Hardware (springs & adjusters)
- Brake Hoses, Lines, Proportioning Valve
- Brake Parking Brake Cables & Shoes
- Brake Fluid Condition & Level
- Brake Wheel Bearings & Seals
- Brake Master Cylinder & Booster
Due For Brakes Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Illinois, Nearby, Near Me?
Schedule a brake inspection Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, nearby suburbs, Chicagoland Illinois at Last Chance Auto Repair today.
How often should I get my brakes inspected?
Visiting a doctor yearly for a physical is a smart choice, it’s also considered basic maintenance and helps reassure a long healthy life. Same goes for your brakes. A yearly brake inspection won’t just give you that reassured feeling of certainty, it also helps make sure that nothing stands in the way of your safe & on-point, stopping power and long healthy brake system life. Let our brake experts help you recognize the essential, smaller, cheaper fixes to maintain a strategic distance from the greater and progressively more costly ones.
Have you been experiencing any telltale warning symptoms?
- Is your brake light on?
- Are you leaking brake fluid?
- Is your vehicle shaking/pulsating?
- Is your brake fluid low, dirty or old?
- Do you hear a grinding or squealing?
- Have your wheels become extra dirty?
- Does you vehicle pull to one side?
- Do your brakes feel spongy?
If so, time is of the essence and a more immediate service is required. Call our team hence Last Chance Auto Repair aka Plainfield brake expert now to make an appointment.
What are brake pads?
In the simplest way possible, brake pads are a part of your vehicles brake system that when pressed against a rotating surface, uses pressure and friction to slow the rotation of that surface. There are several different types of brake pads available today: semi-metallic, low-metallic, ceramic and non-asbestos organic. Different vehicles, different braking applications equals different brake pad materials needed.
What is a rotor?
Brake rotors are an important aspect of your vehicles braking system. The brake rotor is directly connected to each wheel. Brake rotors (brake discs) are what your vehicle’s brake pads clamp down on to stop the wheels from spinning. For your vehicle to stop, the rotor must stop spinning. It stops spinning by friction created by the brake pad.
This stopping power friction creates a lot of heat. Which means rotors need to be made of material that will withstand this heat & powerful friction. The brake disc (rotor) is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon, carbon or ceramic matrix composites. Ceramic composite rotors can actually retain up to 85% more heat vs. standard cast iron rotors and are the choice of individuals who crave the highest levels of performance. But more performance equals more money.
What is a caliper?
The brake caliper applies pressure which in return activates and squeezes the brake pads against the brake rotor surface to slow or stop the vehicle. The caliper requires brake fluid which comes from the master cylinder in order to create the hydraulic power needed to function properly. Brake calipers are an indispensable part of your vehicle’s brake system. Without them your vehicle’s ability to stop would be nonexistent.
What is a brake hose?
When you press down on your brake pedal, brake fluid travels throughout the brake system which includes the brake hoses, which in return feeds your calipers, which then activates your brake pads. Brake hoses are a flexible connection between your vehicle’s brake lines, calipers and wheel cylinders. They transport the hydraulic pressure (typically between 800-2000 psi) needed that clamps the brake pads to the brake rotors. Brake hoses are typically a multi-layered hose inside of a hose with a fabric insert in between. EPDM aka ethylene propylene diene terpolymer is the most common material used to in the manufacturing of hydraulic brake hoses where DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid is used.
What exactly is brake fluid?
Brake fluid is a crucial element needed to make your brakes work properly. Brake fluid, also known as hydraulic fluid, is responsible for moving the various components of your vehicle’s braking system. When you press the brake pedal pressure is created in the brake fluid lines, this energy is distributed to your brake parts so they can do their job.
There are several types of brake fluid including DOT3, DOT4 & DOT5. DOT3 & DOT4 are glycol-based fluids, and DOT5 is silicon-based. The main difference is that DOT3 & DOT4 absorb water, while DOT5 doesn’t. Brake fluid must maintain specific properties. Our brakes can get hot, sometimes up to 1200 degrees, so brake fluid needs an extremely high boiling point. Additionally, in light of the fact that our vehicles experience seasons similarly as we do, it’s imperative to have a low freezing point as well. All while maintaining both extremes, brake fluid is designed not to damage any rubber components in the brake system.
