Brakes are one of man’s greatest inventions which have been in existence ever since the eras where chariots were in use. Well, the brakes on the chariot were applied when the chariot came to halt. It was meant to prevent the chariot from being pulled by the horses as they seem to get restless. The brake was in form of a long piece of wood that was placed inside the wheels. It was until the 1800s when now a man came up with moving cars. It can be traced back to 1890 when the first brakes were used in the earliest steam cars. The brakes were almost similar to those used by the chariots since they used wooden blocks which pushed against the wheels when applied.
In 1920, the mechanical drum brakes were invented by the late Louis Renault. A French engineer and a great pioneer in the field of automobiles. That was the initial advancement made in the braking system in cars. Have you ever asked yourself which mechanism brings about the halting of a car? When you set foot on the brakes, the vehicle’s speed reduces and the car can halt. Well, there are several activities responsible for that but first, let us start by getting to know the types of brakes used in our cars.
Types of brakes.
1.Disk brakes.
This is one of the common types of brakes installed in many vehicles. It works simply by applying friction to the router which is in a disk shape. The caliper which is an attachment to the rotor is fitted with a pad. When brakes are applied, the caliper receives the signal through the brake fluid and presses hard on the rotor. The pads fitted in the caliper apply pressure onto the disk and reduced its speed according to the pressure applied on the brake pedal.
2.Drum brakes.
It’s kind of an older version system of braking which is not commonly used nowadays. You can still find it on older cars and motorcycles. It was only installed on to the rear axle of cars. This type of braking system does not have calipers nor brake pads. Instead, it used brakes shoes. These are curved and are kinked together by pistons. When braking is applied, they are pushed to the walls of the spinning drum.
Braking system.
This is a complex and very vital part of a car that guarantees safety for the passengers and the driver. A car without a working brake system is a direct ticket for disaster. Brakes worked through a combination of many parts which are involved in converting kinetic energy into heat. When you press the brake pedal, the pressure applied is transferred to the master cylinder. The master cylinder is a cylinder-like structure that is filled up with brake fluid. The pressure forces the brake fluid out of the master cylinder via interconnected tubings to the calipers. The calipers are connected to the wheel’s rotter using a mechanism that receives the pressure and pushed the brakes pads hard to the rotor. This reduces the rotor’s speed according to the pressure applies to the brake pedal.
How to maintain brake pads.
Brake pads usually have a lifespan of between 60,000km to 150,000km. Driving past the required miles is very dangerous to your safety. Also depending on your driving habits, brakes pads can only last longer with a careful driver. Below are some tips which can make your car’s brake pads last longer.
1.Keep up with the flow of traffic to avoid unnecessary emergency breaking.
Unnecessary braking means that you end up engaging the brake pads a lot. Remember, there is wear and tear. Doing so will help prevent a faster rate of wear and tear.
2.Avoid speeding.
This is the number one cause of road accidents on most of our roads. Frequent speeding and sudden braking make your brake pads get eaten up very fast. Since brake pads work by transforming kinetic energy into heat, it means that they end up wearing off quickly. Avoid speeding!
- Do not overload your car often.
Heavyweight load is usually a challenge to the brake pads. Brake pads now have to deal with a much larger kinetic force which could at times make them lose off and accidents occur.
- Check on your brake pads after every two years.
You should consider flushing your brakes after every two years so that your braking system can be in good form and condition. The brake fluid brings about corrosion to internal vital parts which can diminish the braking effectiveness. The fluid also attracts water and loses the properties that are necessary for braking.
Conclusion.
Brake pads on average cost up to $200 per axle to replace. If you use the above tips then you are on the good side and can avoid those huge expenses. Brakes are very vital and critical in the safety of a car. Maintenance and care for your car is also another huge contribution to the health of the brake. Don’t forget about good driving habits. A poor braking system could lead to unexpected expenses which can be too much to handle. A Protect Warranty Corporation is here to help you out with those unexpected expenses. This will enable you to have a smooth experience with your car. You will not be required to use your pennies to cater for any repairs. Just a phone call awauy.+1-866-660-6444 is our toll-free number.