Expert Brake Repair & Service at Driven Auto Care in Fremont, CA
Most drivers don’t think of their vehicle’s brakes until something goes drastically wrong. The brake system is crucial to your safety. If the brakes suddenly give out, you won’t be able to stop and can hurt yourself and others on the road. The brake system gives plenty of warning in most cases, but they are subtle warnings. That is why the techs at Driven Auto Care in Fremont, CA check your vehicle’s brakes every time you come in for maintenance or auto repair.
Components of the Braking System
To help understand brake repair and service, you need to know the components of the braking system and have a general idea of what they do. All vehicles newer than 2011 have ABS brakes, which are governed by a computer. In a nutshell, ABS prevents wheels from locking up when you have to stop fast or are stopping on slick surfaces.
The components of the braking system include:
- Brake Pads: The pads are what usually wear out first. They press against the rotors to create friction to slow the vehicle.
- Brake Rotors: The brake rotors are round metal discs that the pads press against to slow the vehicle. They may be slotted or not, depending on the application.
- Calipers: Hydraulic calipers hold the brake pads. When you step on the brake pedal, you push brake fluid from the master through the lines and hoses, which causes the calipers to close, pressing the pads against the rotors.
- Brake Shoes: This is an older style of brake. Shoes press against the inside of a drum to create friction to slow the vehicle. Some trucks still use rear drum brakes.
- Brake Drums: Round, high-sided bowl-shaped and usually made of cast iron. They ride on the wheel hubs.
- Wheel Cylinders: Wheel cylinders use hydraulic pressure to press the shoes against the inside of the drum to slow the vehicle.
- Master Cylinder: Holds the brake fluid. When you press the brakes, you push a piston into the master cylinder, which forces brake fluid through the lines and hoses to the calipers and wheel cylinders.
- Brake Lines: Most brake lines are metal because of the pressure going through them.
- Brake Hoses: These connect the brake lines to the calipers and wheel cylinders. They are made of rubber designed to handle the high pressure of the braking system. They are short, usually 6 to 10 inches, and are used because the part of the brake line that attaches to the calipers and rotors must be flexible.
- ABS Computer: The ABS Computer controls the release of the brake on each wheel. When it senses the wheel locking up, it releases the brake on that wheel, then reapplies pressure. It can do this faster than you can pump the brakes to achieve the same result.
- Wheel Speed Sensors: Tell the ABS computer if the wheel is turning or if it’s locked up.
Common Signs that Your Car Needs Brake Repair and Service.
If you recognize the signs of worn brakes, you can save yourself a lot of money when it comes to a brake job. The pads have a metal tab. When they get too thin, the metal tab rides above the material on the brake pads and scrapes the rotor. Pads are designed that way on purpose so you can hear when the pads need replacing.
If you ignore the noise, the tab scores the rotors so much that they can’t be turned. In most cases, rotors last through two to three sets of brake pads – if you catch the low brake pads before the tab starts damaging the rotor. The other issue that low pads can cause is overextended calipers. Once that happens to a caliper, it must be replaced.
How to Identify Brake Problems?
Additional signs your vehicle’s brakes need attention from an auto repair shop in Fremont, CA, include:
- Grinding Noises: When the tabs first start touching the rotor, they usually squeal. However, if you hear grinding noises, then the backing plate is rubbing on the rotors. The rotors are now destroyed. It doesn’t take long to go from squealing to grinding.
- Vibrations and Pulsations: A vibration or pulsation in the brake pedal could signify warped rotors. Though rare, it can happen and must be repaired as quickly as possible.
- Reduced Braking Performance: If you notice that it takes longer to come to a stop or you have to press harder on the brake pedal, your brakes need attention. It could be worn pads or a leak in the brake system.
- Warning Lights: If the brake or ABS warning light comes on, have an experienced brake technician at Driven Auto Care in Fremont, CA check your vehicle’s brakes immediately.
- Soft / Spongy Brake Pedal: If the brake pedal feels spongy or soft, you could have a problem with the master cylinder. The brake system is a closed system – usually when air gets into the system, the brake pedal doesn’t feel right.
Contact Driven Auto Care in Fremont, CA
When it’s time for brake service and repair or auto repair, contact Driven Auto Care at (510) 659-9718 for an appointment. We are conveniently located at 40931 Albrae St., Fremont, CA 94538.
