The Components of Your Vehicles’ Brakes

The brakes are the most used part of your car. At least, that is, they should be the most used part of your car. Regardless of your driving style, when you need to stop, you need to stop. The brakes allow you to do this, protecting both you and the other drivers on the road. So what are the main functions of your brakes, and how do they work? Let’s find out.

Brake Pads

Brake pads provide the basic function of slowing down and, eventually, stopping you vehicle. A brake pad is a piece of metal with a “pad” on its face, turned in toward the brake rotor. When you hit the brake pedal in your car, the brake pads close in on the rotor, triggered by a brake line. The amount of force applied to the rotor depends on how hard you step on the brake. The harder you press, the more force goes through the brake line, the more abrupt your stop will be. Over time, the pad on the brake wears down. This happens because of the friction caused by braking. When the brake pad wears down too much, the brakes will no longer catch, or will have a hard time doing so. Driving with worn out brake pads can cause damage to the rotor. Luckily, brake pads are regarded as one of the easiest mechanical fixes on your vehicle. This is why the changing of brake pads is one of the first things taught in most high school automotive classes.  

Brake Lights

The brake lights, sometimes known as stomp lights, on your car allow others to see when you are braking. This helps to prevent collisions due to abrupt stops. The brake lights are typically red in color; however, they can be of a variety of hues. Brake lights are hook directly up to your brake pedal. Thus, when you step on the brake pedal in your vehicle, regardless of if you are driving or not, the brake light will come on. Brake lights are to be a pair, thus you won’t see any legal vehicles other than sport bikes without two brake lights. Having damaged or blown out brake lights can be a danger to other drivers on the road. This means it is very important that if your vehicle’s brake lights are broken, they be replaced immediately. 

Brake Repair

If you have reason to believe that the brakes in your vehicle are damaged, you should bring it in for brake repair. In most cases, brake damage is easily diagnosed. Tarnished brake pads and broken brake lines are the most common causes of brake trouble. However, it is not suggested that you try and diagnose the issue yourself. Many brake problems can have similar symptoms, and replacing the wrong part without proper testing can be dangerous. Check the local auto repair shops in your area. Compare their ratings and prices, and then choose the one that seems the best fit for your budget. Even if the problem is seemingly small, like cracked brake lights, it is always better to be safe and sure when it comes to your brakes.