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A friction pad is placed against the disc and used to brake any vehicle. The friction of the pad against the disc causes heat to spread out over the brake disc, causing the car to slow. The same applies for brake drums with the brake shoe pressed against it, heating up and again slowing the vehicle.

Starting under your foot the pressure you apply to the brake pedal is transferred to the brake servo, this utilises engine power to increase the pressure and ensuring you can still feel your leg after a long journey!

How does the pressure transfer to the friction pads (brake)? The secret to brake fluid is in the brake pipe, which runs from the servo and the brakes. Fluid is used as cables would require constant adjustment due to stretching from the heat and constant use.

The brake discs dissipate heat from the pads. For improved dissipation vented brake discs have a central channel that increases the surface to air ratio of the disc and gives more efficient cooling. Ventilated discs improve the air ratio, reduce the buildup of gases, and maintain clean pads. You can fit larger discs to improve the braking performance of high-performance cars, but you might need to use different wheels.

Brake pads play an important role in stopping your car. The higher the friction, the better it will perform. Fast road pads give a good compromise between standard and racing pads with some generating zero pads. Remember that regardless of the pads your driving style will play a large part in the wear on the pads and discs.

ABS prevents lockups when you brake hard. It also allows you to steer your car, but ABS will cut in more.

Brake upgrades

Braided hoses made of stainless steel resist bending and loss of pressure at the pad ends. They also look better and theoretically last longer. Get a complete set and do both the front and the back.

You have many options to upgrade your cars braking system. An easy upgrade is to fit larger discs. Take a standard family car for example with small discs – you could visit your local breaker or buy brake parts online for a performance model from the same vehicle. It is common for small cars to share brake parts with their bigger brothers. A little bit of research can lead to some surprising results.

General Maintenance of Your Brake System

You should inspect your brakes at least once a year. Start by checking your pads and discs for wear and tear. The discs should not have a ridge on the edge due to excessive wear, thin discs can warp under immense heat conditions. You should check your pads for wear, as they can eat into your discs.

The level of brake fluid should be checked at least once a year, but not more than twice a year.

One point to make is to test your brakes by applying them after driving through standing water to remove the water and grease build up.

I hope you have found this information useful, it’s important to understand the attention you need to give your brakes as you need to stop your car with confidence.

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