Description: Historically, pads and
shoes contained a lining material made of asbestos or asbestos
compounds. Today's friction lining may contain semi-metallic
compounds, non-asbestos organic compounds, and ceramics, among
others. Click here
to view a detailed diagram of the brake
system
.
Purpose: Pads and shoes are the
wearable friction elements
of
the braking system. When
installed properly, they
should provide reliable and quiet braking for many
miles.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:
Have your car's brakes inspected annually to make
sure everything's OK. It's always best to be able to plan
ahead for brake work by knowing brake condition as your car ages. Brakes
are a normal wear item
for any car, so sooner or later they're
going to need replacement. Planning can also save you money,
because the
brakes
won't get to the “metal-to-metal” point, which usually means expensive rotor or
drum replacement. Symptoms of brake problems may include dragging brakes,
squealing brakes, a pulsating brake pedal (with
ABS not functioning), grinding brakes, a low brake pedal or
pulling when braking. If your car exhibits
any of these symptoms, have it checked out by a
qualified technician as soon as possible.
