Your vehicle's brake system is vital to the operation of your car; it plays a significant role in keeping your family and other road users safe. Just thinking of a faulty brake system is enough to generate fear for most of us.

We drive our vehicles at speed and, when required, put the foot on the brake pedal, causing the system to operate and smoothly bring the car to a stop.

A regular check by your service centre of the brake system is essential to ensure all the parts are working correctly, are in proper adjustment and are in good order.

The areas that require inspection are usually

Brake Fluid

When we apply the brakes, brake fluid is pushed through the system from the Master cylinder to the Hydraulic Brake callipers and wheel cylinders; they then activate the friction components of the brake system to slow the vehicle.

The brake fluid in a good state will not compress, so it can deliver the pressure required to make the system function properly.

However, if the fluid has become contaminated due to moisture in the system or possibly the fluid has boiled due to hard braking, it can compress, the fluid may lose the ability to function correctly, and the pedal can feel spongy or, worse, non-existent.

Not good for you or your vehicle should the sudden, unexpected stop occur

"Good brake fluid is critical to your brakes operation"; therefore, we recommend that the brake fluid be changed every 2 years

caliper aBrake pads

Brake pads are a metal backing plate that have a friction material bonded to them, they sit in the brake caliper and sandwich the brake rotors/discs.

When pressure is applied from the brake pedal, it squeezes the rotor, causing the vehicle to slow down or stop.

The nature of what they do means they are a component that wears as they operate correctly. Regular inspection of the brake pads ensures a safe amount of friction material is available for the system to operate safely.

At regular servicing intervals, your mechanic will inspect the brake pads and advise if they require replacement.

 

Brake rotors

Brake rotors/discs are large steel discs that the system pushes the brake pads against, clamping the rotor, causing the vehicle to slow down.

They have a legal minimum thickness prescribed by law and, from time to time, require replacement.

When a mechanic decides the brake pads require replacement, they will measure the thickness of the rotor to decide if it can be machined back to a flat surface or if it needs replacement.

The reason for machining or replacing rotors when brake pads are replaced is to ensure maximum contact of the brake pad with a good clean surface on the rotor, this provides you with the optimum safety performance of your system.

Just like brake pads, brake rotors wear out and must be examined to ensure they are within the correct specifications or replaced.

Brake Shoes

While not as prevalent today as they once were in the industry, many vehicles still use a "Drum brake system" on the rear of the car.

Brake shoes are a part of the drum brake system, and like brake pads in a disc brake system, they have friction material bonded to them; they apply pressure to the brake drum, causing the vehicle to slow down or stop.

Regular inspection and adjustment ensure the maximum contact area with the brake drum is achieved, providing you with the correct brake efficiency for your vehicle.

Do I have a problem?

Common symptoms of brake problems are

  • The brake pedal goes to the floor
  • Spongy brake pedal feel
  • Very hard pedal feel, with reduced braking
  • The vehicle fails to stop
  • The car pulls to one side when braking
  • Scraping noise coming from the wheels when braking
  • Noticeable excessive amount of Smoke coming from the wheel area during and after braking

If you have experienced this or have concerns about your vehicle's brakes and how they are performing, book your car into your local service centre and let the experts check the system for you.

If your mechanic finds no fault with your brakes, you can drive confidently, knowing the system will perform properly when needed.

If your mechanic does find faults and rectifies them, you can drive confidently, knowing the system will perform properly when needed.

It's a win for you either way.