Home
Tires
Car, Truck & SUV Tires
Tire Care Tips
Commercial Tires
Low-Profile Tires
Wheels
Automotive Services
Our Services
Car Care Tips
Brake Fluid Flush
Brake Pads and Shoes
Bent Wheels
Electrical Power Steering
Front-End or Four-Wheel Alignment
Patch and Plug
Rotor Changes
Tire Checks
Wheel (Rim) Leaks
Cracked Wheels
Wheels in Wayne, MI
Financing/Leasing
Acima Financing
Financing in a Snap
American First Finance
Coupons
About
Our Story
News
Reviews
Jobs
Find Us
Contact
(734) 326-4814
32449 Michigan Ave. Wayne, MI 48184
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Saturday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
[GEOTITLE]
[GEOADDRESSONE]
[GEOADDRESSTWO]
[GEOPHONE]
Directions
Store Hours
[GEOHOURSMONDAY]
[GEOHOURSTUESDAY]
[GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY]
[GEOHOURSTHURSDAY]
[GEOHOURSFRIDAY]
[GEOHOURSSATURDAY]
[GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Change Location
Current Location
[GEOTITLE]
[GEOADDRESSONE]
[GEOADDRESSTWO]
[GEOPHONE]
|
Directions
Store Hours
[GEOHOURSMONDAY]
[GEOHOURSTUESDAY]
[GEOHOURSWEDNSDAY]
[GEOHOURSTHURSDAY]
[GEOHOURSFRIDAY]
[GEOHOURSSATURDAY]
[GEOHOURSSUNDAY]
Change Location
Go
Use current location
News
24
How Do My Brakes Work?
posted on
4/24/2019 10:02:29 AM
It’s a sunny day and you’re driving down the road with your windows down and music turned up. All of a sudden, the car in front of you stops abruptly, causing you to slam on your brakes. Thank goodness your brakes worked perfectly, and you avoided a collision. Until this incident occurred you probably haven’t given your brake system much thought. Sure, you know your brakes should be inspected and serviced every once in a while… but how do they actually make your car stop with just a tap of the foot?
When you really stop and think, you realize brakes are a pretty amazing invention. They have the power to bring a large, multi-ton machine traveling at 70 miles per hour to a complete stop with just a push of the pedal. This ability is all thanks to science!
A moving car has a lot of kinetic energy, meaning “energy in motion.” To stop your car, your brakes must eliminate that kinetic energy. When you push your foot to the pedal, a connected lever will be pushed into a small cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid in its reservoir. This causes the hydraulic fluid to travel through a system of lines into other larger cylinders, or calipers, located by the wheel. When fluid enters the caliper, this pushes the caliper to actuate the brake pad against the brake rotor. When the brake pad and brake rotor meet, this generates friction which in turn slows down the outer wheel and tire… bringing your car to a complete stop! Simple, right?
The brakes themselves are one of two types: disc brakes or drum brakes. Drum brakes appear similar to a drum, hence the name. Drum brakes have shoes located inside the drum which are pushed outward when you press your brake pedal. This causes the shoes to rub the inside of the drum and slow the wheel. Disc brakes operate a bit differently. Disc brakes use a metal rotor which spins with the wheel. When you push the pedal, a caliper squeezes the brake pads against the rotor and slows the wheel. This action is very similar to the one you would use to stop a spinning disc by squeezing it between your fingers!
The next time you drive your vehicle, take a moment to appreciate your brake system and the science used to bring your car to a halt with just the tap of a pedal. Take care of your brake system by having it inspected and serviced regularly by an experienced technician to ensure that when you need your car to stop, it will.
Categories:
Auto Repair 101
| View Count: (38) |
Return
Related
Daylight Saving Ends - Check Your Vehicle Lights
11/5/2014
Do You Need Winter Tires?
10/31/2019
10 Ways to Get Better Gas Mileage
7/1/2013
Something is Leaking: What Is It?
10/11/2018
Is It Safe to Drive on a Tire with a Bubble?
6/25/2020
Strange Traffic Laws from Around the World
1/10/2019
Tires & Wheels
Goodyear
Dunlop
Kelly
Hercules
Michelin®
Services
Tire Repair
Brake Pads
Tire Rotation
Wheel Repair
Suspension Repair
About
Home
Tires
Wheels
Automotive Services
Financing/Leasing
Coupons
About
Find Us
Visit Our Shop
Contact Us
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
(734) 326-4814
Fax:
Address:
32449 Michigan Ave.
Wayne, MI 48184
.
Powered by Net Driven
Login
Tire Stop
32449 Michigan Ave.,
Wayne, MI 48184
Phone:
(734) 326-4814
Fax:
48184
42.28345,-83.35922
Uh oh!
Page not found!
Sorry the page you are looking for may have been moved or deleted.
Please click anywhere to
continue browsing our site.