A friction pad is placed against the disc and used to brake any vehicle. The friction of the pad against the disc causes heat to spread out over the brake disc, causing the car to slow. The same applies for brake drums with the brake shoe pressed against it, heating up and again slowing the vehicle.
Start under your foot and apply pressure to the brake pedal. This pressure is transferred to brake servo which uses engine power to increase pressure.
How is the pressure transferred to the friction (brake) pads? Well the secret is brake fluid - this is contained in a brake pipe that runs from the servo to the brakes. Fluid is used as cables would require constant adjustment due to stretching from the heat and constant use.
As mentioned the heat is dissipated from the pad by the brake discs. Ventilated brake discs provide better heat dissipation and more efficient cooling. Drilled and vented discs increase the air ratio, prevent a build up of gases and keep the pads in a clean condition. You can fit larger discs to improve the braking performance of high-performance cars, but you might need to use different wheels.
Brake pads play an important role in stopping your car. The higher the friction, the better it will perform. The fast road pads offer a compromise between racing and standard pads, with some generating zero. Your driving style and driving habits will have a significant impact on how the pads and discs wear.
ABS helps to prevent lockups under heavy braking and allows you to steer the car but steering will reduce the braking efficiency as the ABS cuts in more.
Brake Upgrades
Stainless steel braided hoses prevent any flexing and therefore loss of pressure at the pad end, they also look nicer and theoretically last longer too - get a full set and do the front and back at the same time.
You have many options to upgrade your cars braking system. The fitting of bigger discs is an upgrade that could be a fairly simple option. Take a standard family car for example with small discs - you could visit your local breaker or buy brake parts online for a performance model from the same vehicle. Small cars usually share the same brake parts than their larger brothers and just a small amount of research could turn up some surprises.
General Care of Your Brake System
At least once per year you need to give your brakes a once over. Start by checking your pads and discs for wear and tear. The discs should not have a ridge on the edge due to excessive wear, thin discs can warp under immense heat conditions. Check your pads for wear as they will eat into your discs when worn.
The level of brake fluid should be checked at least once a year, but not more than twice a year.
One point to make is to test your brakes by applying them after driving through standing water to remove the water and grease build up.
I hope you have found this information useful, it's important to understand the attention you need to give your brakes as you need to stop your car with confidence.
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