How Sure Are You That Your Brakes Will Work Properly?

A lot of emphasis is placed on making vehicles go, but isn’t it more critical that they stop? Your safety (and that of everyone else) depends on the integrity of your braking system. When seconds and feet of stopping distance count, would you be willing to bet your life on your brakes? Be sure they’re up to the task by getting periodic brake system checks and repair when necessary at Rush Automotive in Round Rock, Texas.

Brake System Parts and How They Work

When you place your foot on the brake pedal, a level and piston move to transfer force to the master cylinder. That’s the brake fluid reservoir. As the pressure grows stronger, it travels through the hoses or lines to reach the cylinder where brake fluid is held at each wheel. The fluid force is necessary for moving brake parts into position such that they can stop the vehicle. These are the principles of hydraulics and friction. The fluid force multiplies beyond the pressure a driver can apply to the pedal, and friction slows and stops a multi-thousand-pound automobile. Newer cars usually have disc brakes on at least the front wheels. This kind of brake has a caliper attached to a metal brake pad. The caliper is moved by fluid force so that the pad contacts the disc (also known as a rotor) at the wheel. That contact generates the friction you need to stop. Older models and perhaps the rear wheels of newer vehicles have drum brakes. They, too, work using hydraulics and friction. As the drum turns inside the wheel, the fluid force propels a brake shoe against the drum’s interior surface, slowing your automobile.

Help Checking and Repairing Brakes

While the braking system is quite an amazing collaboration of components and scientific forces, its optimal performance depends on the condition of each part. Thus, multiple things can go wrong. If a breach develops anywhere in the system–a tiny hole in a brake line, a cracked cylinder, etc.–the brake fluid can leak out. Once the level drops too low, your brakes will lack the hydraulic force necessary to effect a safe stop. Also, metal parts wear over time and with use. This is particularly applicable to brake pads and brake shoes. Once they wear to a certain point, they can no longer perform as well as they did when they were sufficiently thick. Before your braking system becomes compromised, let the ASE-certified technicians at Rush Automotive check your car periodically. We can help you with the preventive maintenance services and necessary repairs that will keep your brakes in good condition, preserving your ability to stop safely.