Brake Pads |
When our ride’s brake system fouls up, that’s the only time when we give enough attention to it. Why should you wait for unpleasant things to happen before you take notice of your vehicle’s braking system? You just need a basic understanding of your car’s brake system and you can surely save bucks, you can drive safely and more confidently, and more importantly, you can save lives. Remember that the more you know about your driving machine’s brake system, the better you can take care of it.
The brakes are responsible for converting the vehicle’s kinetic energy into heat. To make it clear, brakes stop the rotation of the wheels and put the vehicle into a halt. The brake system works this way: the moment you step on your vehicle’s brake pedal, the force exerted by your leg is passed on the master cylinder. This master cylinder holds a piston that forces a system of hydraulic brake lines leading to the automobile’s wheels. Upon reaching the wheels, the pressure coming from the brake fluid activates the brakes by forcing pistons to drive the friction material against the spinning rotor. It will then generate a friction that causes the wheel to slow down and put the entire vehicle to a safe stop. This frictional material is called the brake pad.
Brake pads are significant components of the vehicle’s brake system that are accountable for absorbing the impact of the frictional force that’s needed to stop the vehicle. It is usually positioned in the middle of the brake rotors and the brake calipers so that it can take up heat and energy, and deliver adequate grip to halt the automobile.
Originally, automotive brake pads were composed of organic ingredients like carbon and asbestos, seized together via a tough resin. However, the US government banned the use of asbestos and only those driving machines made for organic brake pads can have them. These days, most of the brake pads available in the automotive market are semi-metallic. Though manufacturers do not disclose their formulas, these semi-metallic brake pads generally employ brass, steel wool shavings and copper seized together in a strong resin. Since they are chiefly metallic, such frictional materials can survive even for thousands of miles. The main disadvantage of semi-metallic brake pads is that there is a higher occurrence of grinding sounds and this is mostly inevitable. The cause of this noise is the metal shavings that are rubbed against the steel rotors the moment brakes are applied. If you want to get rid of this grinding noise, you can prefer several aftermarket brake pads that are designed to be quieter than the ordinary semi-metallic units.
But no matter how tough they may be, brake pads will eventually wear out and fail. There are two steps to know if your brake pads already need replacement. First is to inspect the pad depth and second is to hear if screeching sound is produced when brakes are applied. If after your inspection you found out that your vehicle’s brake pads already need replacement, Parts Train can give you premium-quality replacement units.
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