You press the brake pedal and the car stops. That explains what the brake pedal does, but it does not answer the question of how do brakes work. You might wonder why that should matter because you won’t be doing any repairs or replacement. However, at D Mac’s Auto Repair in Escondido, CA we have seen a lot of avoidable auto repair work that relates directly to the brakes. While we do brake repair and brake maintenance, we have also seen cars damaged because the owners were not aware of the ways that brakes work and put too much demand on them.
How Brakes Stop the Car
There are different types of brakes in modern vehicles. For the most part they are either disc brakes or drum brakes. There are also the hand or emergency brakes, but we won’t look at those here (though they too should be included in any the maintenance or brake repair in Escondido that you plan).
All brakes work by slowing the spinning tires. In the case of the disc brakes, there are the brake pads that are clamped against a disc or rotor that causes the tires to spin. When it is a drum brake system, there are shoes that push outward against the drum and this friction slows the wheels.
What this means is that any and all brakes should be used wisely, and this can be done by driving attentively and never in a way that requires you to slam on the brakes constantly or repeatedly. You must also have the brakes serviced frequently because even the best drivers use their brakes, and simple daily use does wear down pads and shoes.
Contact D Mac’s Auto Repair in Escondido if You Are Experiencing Brake Problems
You will also want to make a point of recognizing warning signs when brakes are failing. Loud noise, shaking and very slow stopping are some signs. Do you think your brakes need some work? If so, it is time to get in touch with us by calling our Escondido, CA shop at 760-746-0111. You can also use our online contact form and a member of our service team will get back to you quickly.
