How exactly does the Car Brake System Work?

If you talk about the safety items of a vehicle, the braking system is one of the most imperative parts. It is necessary to understand why such a braking system is important in an automobile and how it works. The car braking system plays an important role in preventing accidents. There are different kinds of brakes for the different systems as well.

To help you work have an overview of how it all works, we have compiled this guide for you.

Different Types of Car Brakes

As mentioned before, there can different types of brakes in a car, both between and within a vehicle. Understanding these brakes can help you repair them quite well as well. 

In general, two kinds of brakes can stop the car from driving. These are also referred to as service brakes. They are Disc brakes and Drum brakes. Furthermore, most of the cars of today are also equipped with emergency brakes and anti-lock brakes.

Disc Brakes

Such brakes come with a brake rotor that is directly connected to the wheel of the car. The hydraulic pressure of the master cylinder leads the caliper to wring the braking pads on both sides of the rotor. Such friction between these pads and the rotor will eventually cause the vehicle to slow down and cease.

Drum Brakes

These brakes are made up of a brake drum connected to the inside of the wheel. When the pedal of the brake contracts, once again, the hydraulic pressure leads the two shoes of the brake to press against the brake drum. This will eventually lead to friction and cause the vehicle to slow down and cease.

Emergency Brakes

The Emergency brakes are also known as parking brakes. These are the secondary braking system and work without depending on the aforementioned service brakes. There are quite some different variations of such emergency brakes.

You might find one that comes in the form of a third pedal or a handle near the steering column or even a lever between the seats. These brakes allow you to keep the car stationary when you have parked it. It can also be used for different emergencies like brake failure.

Anti-Lock Brakes

The anti-lock brakes are most common in newer cars. When you apply the stationary brake all of a sudden, these anti-lock brakes will prevent the wheels from getting locked, allowing the tires to skid. This is quite useful when you are traveling on wet surfaces or slippery roads.

What is the Meaning of a Brake Warning Light in a Car?

You might have noticed the brake warning light in cars. This light is meant to indicate a problem within the braking system of the car. This is usually red but might differ between the models.

It might indicate instant risk or issue, but it might also be prospectively compromising with the safety of the car in general. What does this mean? Well, it simply means, you should not ignore such a warning light.

Several reasons frequently cause such warning lights to start to flash in the braking system of the car. We have summarized some of the possible ones below:

• The brake fluid might be too low- This increases the possibility of vapor lock. You might need to contact the Vehicle Brake Repair Service Calgary, CA, or the Mobile vehicle mechanic Calgary, CA without further delay.
• The brake pad thickness might go too low- Such a problem might risk breaking the contact between the brake discs and the backplate. You will need to run to the car Brake Service Calgary, CA, or the Brake light repair system Calgary, CA when you start hearing loud noises when you are pulling the brake.
• False reading due to faulty braking system- This can occur due to a corroded anti-lock braking system, which might be generating wrong signals. You might need to consult Emergency Brake Repair System Calgary, CA, in such situations.
• False alarms due to an oversensitive brake warning system- This causes the light to continue flashing even after switching the pads and the other sensors. In such a situation, you need to follow some steps.

At first, you can start with pushing the brake pedal a few times to allow the brake pads and brake discs to stay connected. Then, you need to switch off the dashboard for a few seconds, followed by switching it on to see if the light still flashes. If it continues, you need expert assistance.

Tips on Maintaining Car’s Braking System

If you want to avoid the braking system of the car failing suddenly, you need to take care of the braking system. We have some tips to maintain your car’s braking system:

• You must have the brake and brake pads checked at least once every 12 months. If you realize that they are too rusted, you might have to replace them altogether.
• Keep an eye out for the brake fluid regularly. This fluid is imperative to transfer the heat to the different parts of the system and absorb water.
• Keep an eye out for the warning signs- if you hear weird noises, or strange responses from the brake, get the brakes checked immediately.
• When you are driving try to slow down your gliding. This will help you to control the pressure you put on the car.
• Do not compromise with the investment you make on reliable brakes for your automobile. You want safe, efficient, and long-lasting brakes.
• Refrain from pushing the brakes when the cars in front of you are braking without any reason.

Concluding Remarks

You are now aware of all that you need to know about the braking system of the car and how to maintain them. It is your responsibility to regularly monitor the health of the different parts of the system to avoid compromising safety and reliance when driving or maintaining your automobile.