Car-X has been providing brake service for over 25 years in the Greater Des Moines and Ames communities
Make sure you look for the ASE patch on your
mechanic's uniform
The most important part of caring for brakes in your car is to make sure an ASE certified technician is doing the work. Braking technology has come a long way since the inception of the automobile and continues to evolve. This is even more of a reason to be picky when it comes to who you hire to work on your brakes.
To ensure you have a safe driving experience and braking system, our ASE certified technicians use the Motorist Assurance Program Uniform Inspection Guidelines to assess the following:
- Disc brake rotors and pads, calipers, and hardware
- Brake drums and shoes, wheel cylinders, and return springs
- Parking brake cables
- Hydraulic system including the master cylinder, brake fluid and hoses, and the power booster
Brake systems can vary by make and model, but you will always find disc brakes in the front of the vehicle and either a disk or drum brakes in the rear. A network of hoses and tubes connect your brakes to each wheel and the master cylinder while supplying everything with hydraulic (brake) fluid.
Your braking equipment is made up of two things: 1) hydraulics and 2) friction materials. When pressing down on your brake pedal, a lot happens -- more than we have space here to mention. Essentially, hydraulics and friction materials work together in a "brake ballet" of sorts to help your 2,000-pound vehicle come to a halt, even at a high speed. Here is a simple breakdown of how your brake parts collaborate with each other:
1) Hydraulics -- includes the master cylinder, brake lines and hoses, and wheel cylinders and calipers.
The master cylinder turns the physical pressure applied by your foot into hydraulic pressure. In the meantime, brake fluid is directed to your wheel brakes by a system of hoses and brake lines. Wheel cylinders then start working to force pistons out, which pushes the brake shoes into the brake drum. Calipers squeeze brake pads onto the "rotor" to stop your car. Together, these components apply pressure to friction materials.
2) Friction Materials -- includes the disc brake pads and drum brake shoes.
A disc brake uses brake fluid to push pressure into a caliper, where it presses against a piston. Following that, the piston then squeezes two brake pads against the rotor, forcing it to stop. A brake shoe is a steel shoe with friction material attached.
Bad braking can occur when hydraulic fluid is contaminated with air. The solution? There are bleeder screws located at each wheel cylinder that are detached to bleed the brake system. This removes any unnecessary air found in your braking system.
Our ASE certified technicians would be more than happy to give you more information about your braking system, just ask!
