It goes without saying that we have a lot of faith in our brakes. We expect them to work every time we press the pedal, be it a change in the colour of traffic lights or slowing down of a vehicle ahead of us. But there is a lot of physics that goes on behind the scenes. Many different components work in tandem with each other to ensure your safety. Outlined below is the way in which the brakes operate, as well as the means to keep them well maintained for lifetime of your vehicle.
Disc brakes are the most common type of brakes that are used by most fleets and so are being discussed here. The gist of the matter is this: by pressing the brake pedal, your foot causes motion in a lever which, in turn causes displacement of in incompressible fluid. It also causes calipers (mechanical pinchers) to compress a disk (rotor) that is fixed to your wheels. This stops the motion of the wheels by friction and heat. Between the caliper and the rotor lie the brake pads. These are made of a coarse-grained material and are designed to bear the majority of the wear.
Overuse
How you use your brake is a major factor in determining operating efficiency. If you have a speeding tendency you may sharply decrease the life of your equipment by putting too much heat into the pads and rotors. If needed, take your car to reputed brake repairs.
Detecting problems
The first indicator for many brake issues is obtained through driver feel. You may notice a vibration, or may observe that more force than usual is necessary to stop the car. You may also hear a high pitched sound as you slow down. In all these cases it is necessary that you plan a service checkup from a mechanic Wodonga. The first components of the system that fail are usually the pads. They are designed in such a way that their failure is noticed easily (by means of the screeching sound). You should thus keep an eye on the behavior of your car as it slows down and you will get to know if something is wrong.
Consider the Load
Though many larger vehicles have multiple or redundant braking systems, it would be a mistake and a great risk to assume that even if one of these systems fail to operate, the rest will be able to accommodate the load. The designing of a vehicle is carried out according to factory-recommended specifications and tolerances. Overuse, just as in the case of passenger cars, can ultimately lead to dwindling performance and complete failure.
Maintenance intervals
Your owner’s manual will suggest a certain schedule for maintenance activities and you can also use a vehicle maintenance application. If you stick to this schedule, you can be confident of not missing essential brake service.