Brake system

Brakes

The brake system is often forgotten when it comes to vehicle maintenance, but as the first step toward vehicle safety, the brake system should be prioritized. Not only will proper maintenance prevent a complete brake system failure, it will also save you money by preventing premature corrosion of internal parts and equipment breakdown. Always use the brake fluid type designated on the brake reservoir cap or in the owner’s manual.
Brake System
A necessary step in brake system maintenance is changing the brake fluid. Brake fluid is hygroscopic (it absorbs water). Replacing used fluid with fresh fluid keeps the system free of moisture. If your brakes seem to not work as well as they used to in severe stopping conditions, flushing the brake fluid and adding fresh fluid can restore braking performance.
How to Check the Brake Fluid Level:
1. Find the brake fluid reservoir — it’s under the hood toward the rear of the engine bay on the driver’s side.
2. Clean the reservoir and its cap of any road grime and dust.
3. Remove the cap and add fluid until the level reaches the “full” or “max” mark on the side of the reservoir.
4. Replace the cap.

Main Components of the Braking System

• Brake Pedal
• Brake Booster
• Master Cylinder
• Brake Fluid
• Hydraulic Lines
• Proportional Valve
• Hydraulic Calipers
• Disc Brakes
• Brake Pads
• Rotor
• Drum Brakes
• Drum
• Brake Shoes
• Wheel Cylinder
• Antilock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Wheel Sensors
• Emergency Brake

How does the Braking System work?

The brake pedal, on which you apply pressure to slow down or stop your vehicle, is connected by levers and rods to the brake booster. The brake booster multiplies and transfers the leverage force produced by stepping on the brake pedal to the master cylinder.  In turn, the master cylinder uses that amplified leverage to pressure the brake fluid from its reservoir through hydraulic lines toward the two front and rear brakes that are mounted on the wheels of the vehicle.

 

Antilock Braking System (ABS)

The Antilock Braking System is located between the brake master cylinder and the wheels. Its purpose is to prevent instability of the vehicle under extreme braking conditions. To do so, the ABS modulates the pressure of the brake fluid that is applied to each front and rear brake, preventing the wheels from “locking up” - as could be the case in a conventional Braking System (see above). Normal brake fluid pressure is restored when there is no longer a possibility of the wheels locking up. As you drive, the system constantly monitors each wheel through an electronic wheel sensor: if one of the wheels is turning slower than the others, the antilock system releases the pressure on that wheel. In the eventuality of an ABS failure, the ABS warning light comes “on” on the instrument panel: it indicates that the basic braking system applies MAXIMUM pressure on all the wheels WHICH CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS.

Moreover, if your vehicle is equipped with an Antilock Braking System, the pads (of disk brakes) and shoes (of drum brakes) are fitted with wear sensors that indicate any wearing of these parts.

Emergency Brake

Every vehicle is equipped with an emergency braking system that is independent from the main system.  The emergency brake expands the brake shoes on the drums (for rear brake drums) or compresses the rear brake rotors (for rear disc brakes) by means of a mechanical device.