Brakes like Fred Flintstone’s don’t exist anymore, thank goodness! The constant stopping and starting of cars at red lights and intersections would be terrible for your soles if they weren’t. Because of the intricacies of your braking system, a little push on the brake pedal may now bring your car to a complete stop. Brake pads, like other working elements of your automobile, will eventually wear out from constant use. Find out more about the brake pads in your car so you can keep tabs on their condition, maintain them properly, and prevent any issues before they cause you to “break down.”
TELL ME, WHEN DID PEOPLE FIRST USE BRAKE PADS?
Most automobiles used a wooden block as a brake until the 1890s. The car came to a halt when the driver depressed a lever, which in turn caused the block to scrape against the wheels. As cars went faster than 10 to 20 mph and wheels got more complicated, the wooden block stopped being the best way to stop. In 1898, Elmer Ambrose Sperry came up with the first remedy: a car with brakes on the front wheels that “pinched” the disc, similar to how bicycle brakes work.
HOW DO TODAY’S BRAKE PADS WORK?
The friction created when the brake pads make contact with the rotors is what slows and stops the vehicle. The brake pads are an integral element of an intricate system that cannot work correctly without the other components. The function of your brake pads is as follows:
- When the brake pedal is depressed, a cylinder is activated, and brake fluid is pumped via tubes and delivered to the callipers.
- The calipers squeeze the brake pads.
- Your brake pads push on the wheel-connected rotor.
- This pressure makes the friction that your car needs slow down or stop. Wheel speed decreases as rotor speed decreases.
- If you lift your foot from the brake pedal, the brake pads will automatically release, the brake fluid will return to its original location in the hoses, and the wheels will resume their forward motion.
WHAT BRAKE PAD ISSUES SHOULD I WATCH OUT FOR?
A variety of noises and feelings may indicate brake pad issues. Keep an eye out and ears out for:
Any sounds described as “eardrum piercing,” such as squealing or grinding, may indicate that it is time to check the brake pads. Worn pads might harm other system elements, resulting in more extensive and costly repairs.
When brake pads are worn down to the metal, it may cause vibrations in the steering wheel and the brake pedal and eventually harm the rotors. It’s more than simply annoying when your brake pedal or steering wheel begins to tremble. The stopping distance is too great; your brakes attempt to tell you something.
Several potential causes for the brake warning light to illuminate the dashboard. The indicator light may tell you that your brake fluid is low, your parking brake is on, or there is an issue with the hydraulic system. Don’t compromise your ability to stop safely since the reason the light is on might be anything.
TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD I INSPECT MY BRAKE PADS REGULARLY?
The brakes (including the brake pads) should be examined after five months or 5,000 kilometres as conventional wisdom recommends, although your vehicle’s manual may include more precise maintenance intervals.
