Description: Your car’s brakes use a
hydraulic system, including the master cylinder, disc brake calipers
(disc brakes), wheel cylinders (drum brakes), hydraulic lines and
hoses, and combination/proportioning valve. When you push on the
brake pedal, the force of your leg generates hydraulic pressure in
the master cylinder, which then flows through the hydraulic lines
and hoses to the wheel cylinders and calipers. The hydraulic force
applies pressure through the wheel cylinders and calipers, forcing
the brake shoes against the drums (drum brakes) and the pads against
the rotors (disc brakes). Cars and light trucks also have a parking
brake, which mechanically activates the rear brakes of the vehicle
through a cable. This is also sometimes referred to as the emergency
brake. In the early 1960’s, cars began using split hydraulic systems
and tandem master cylinders. Essentially, this divided the hydraulic
system into two separate systems (front and back), ensuring proper
hydraulic and braking on one side of the system, if a leak developed
on the other side. In the 1980’s, some carmakers began to use
diagonally split systems, which took safety a step further. Instead
of splitting the system into front and rear, the system was now
hydraulically divided into left-rear/right-front and
right-rear/left-front. By maintaining one front and one rear brake,
the result is more balanced braking when the system develops a leak.
By law, all of today’s cars are required to use some type of
hydraulically split system. View a detailed illustration
of a drum and rotor
brake assembly (.pdf/583 KB).
Purpose: The brake system absorbs the energy of
the moving car and converts it into heat. Proper brake operation is
critical to the safety of your car. Brake safety has increased even
further due to the widespread use of antilock brakes
(ABS).
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. On cars with ABS, if the BRAKE,
ANTILOCK or ABS light on the instrument panel stays on or flashes,
or comes on while driving, it indicates a fault in the ABS system.
the If your car exhibits any of these symptoms, have it checked out
by a qualified technician as soon as possible.
