Your Car’s Brakes
When you think about your car and all of its parts, which part would you say is most important? Even those who have little to no knowledge of cars, like me, would probably have a decent guess in mind. I believe that your brakes are the most important part. Granted, you do require many other parts to use your car, but without breaks you would be traveling in an indisputable deathtrap. Brakes are in imperative part of any car, so keeping them in prime working condition is a must, not only for your safety, but for the safety of others as well.
It is important to have a basic understanding of how brakes work, even if you are not a mechanic. The brakes on your car work by converting friction into stopping power. When you apply pressure to your brakes, brake fluid travels through your break lines to push on the brake calipers, which in turn push your brake pads into your rotors or drums forcing them to stop moving. You already understand as a driver that the harder you push on your brake the faster you stop, but do you know why? This is because the harder you break the more pressure you exert on the fluid travelling through your lines, which in turn places greater pressure on your pads, causing your rotors or drums to cease their movement quicker.
These are the basics of how your breaks work, but what about when your breaks go bad? Several things can happen that can cause your breaks to become faulty. For example, if you have a leak in your breaking system, where the brake fluid travels to the brake pads, it will cause your brakes to feel weak. This is because air can be compressed, unlike fluid, which decreases the pressure being placed on your pads which in turn causes you to break at a slower pace. Also, if your brake pads are low on material it may cause problems. If this happens you will notice it takes longer for your brakes to respond to the pressure you exert on the brake pedal, and that is because with less material on the pad it takes longer for it to hit the rotor or drum to slow your car down. These are both things you may notice that indicate a problem with your brakes.
So be aware of your car and any changes you may notice in its braking pattern. If you notice any alterations like those listed above, do not hesitate to find a repair shop. Even if you are on vacation, shady breaks are nothing to joke around with. Chicago brake repair shops will be just as good as those in your home town, especially if it means getting your family home safe. It is important to be knowledgeable about your car’s brakes, so be sure to always take proper care of them to ensure a safe journey for you.