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Understanding How Different Auto Braking Systems Work

Reliable brakes are integral to the safe operation of any car, of course. They slow and stop your car by converting the kinetic energy of the rotating wheel into heat energy via friction. When your braking pedal is depressed, pads press against the drum or rotor, triggering the energy conversion. The main considerations with a vehicle’s braking system are the brake type and actuator mechanism.

Today, we’ll briefly discuss the operation of drum and disc brakes. I’ll describe how each system works to slow your vehicle and the individual components involved in the process.

Drum Brakes

Most vehicles that roll off the automaker’s factory floor are equipped with one of two types of braking assemblies: drum or disc. Each type offers inherent advantages over the other, but your car’s make and model will ultimately determine which type is used.

With drum assemblies, a drum that is attached to the wheel houses two semicircular shoes. When activated, the shoes press against the drum, slowing your car. Actuators sit between the two shoes at a specific edge; when triggered, they twist. This twisting motion forces the shoe against the drum. When the pedal is released, the shoes retract via a set of springs.

Depending on the configuration of the actuator, the drum structure may be labeled “single leading edge” or “double leading edge.” The term “leading edge” refers to the location in which the actuators are installed and therefore the point of drum contact. Single leading edges have one actuator while double leading edges have two for maximum contact.

Disc Brakes

Disc-based assemblies perform much better than their drum counterparts. As a result, they’re more likely to be found in sports cars and other high-performance automobiles. A disc brake system uses a caliper assembly that overlaps the rotor, a metal plate attached to the wheel. A caliper mechanism contains hydraulic cylinders. When it is activated, it presses pads against the rotor, thereby slowing your vehicle.

A rotor is not simply a solid plate that directly bolts to the wheel. In reality, floating rotors are used because the tolerance in a regular, one-piece assembly is very small. If the unit is off by as little as 0.07 mm, damage and large amounts of vibration can result.

Floating rotors rely upon float buttons to connect the carrier and main rotor; the carrier bolts directly to the wheel. These buttons allow a small amount of lateral movement, reducing warping and vibration.

Along with floating designs, rotors are also cross-drilled to improve performance. When pressure is applied, a gas layer can form between the pad and rotor surface, reducing performance. Cross-drilling removes this problem by providing an area for the trapped gas to escape.

Keeping Your Car’s Brakes In Good Condition

Most drivers will never need to know what I’ve just described. However, the more you understand about your car’s parts, the better prepared you’ll be when you visit your mechanic. The important thing is that you keep your vehicle’s brakes in good condition. If you notice squealing or a lack of pressure, have an auto technician take a look. Replacements may be a small investment, but your safety on the road may depend upon it.

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Why Your Car’s Engine Overheats

Your vehicle’s engine cannot tolerate temperatures that exceed 220 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods. Under such circumstances, it will overheat and quickly lead to expensive damage. Most drivers are aware that the problem will typically leave them stranded at the side of the road, but they’re uninformed regarding the root causes.

Today, we’ll explore a few of the most common reasons for overheating. I’ll explain a few details that will help you troubleshoot the issue, or at least identify why it’s happening. I’ll also describe some of the potential consequences.

Is There A Leak?

Antifreeze or coolant is added to your car’s radiator to maintain your engine’s internal temperature. If a leak develops and coolant escapes, the temperature will rise. To check whether your vehicle is leaking coolant, let your car cool before taking the radiator cap off. You’ll be able to see the coolant inside your radiator if it is leveled off properly. If you’re unable to see it, add more. But, keep an eye on the levels over the next few weeks. If they drop again, have a mechanic identify and fix the leak.

Are The Fans Blowing?

The area which surrounds your vehicle’s radiator sustains enormous heat exchange. Most cars today are equipped with a cooling fan that sits near it – either in front or behind it. One of the fan’s main purposes is to blow hot air across the surface of the radiator when you’re driving at lower speeds or have completely stopped. Sensors monitor the temperature of your engine and trigger the fan. If the fan – or the sensor that triggers it – fails, airflow may become constricted leading to overheating.

Is There A Circulation Problem?

It’s possible for your vehicle to overheat while you’re driving at high speeds. Because airflow is rarely constricted at such speeds (air should be moving freely over the radiator), the problem is likely due to the coolant not circulating properly.

This might happen as the result of a kink or stoppage forming in the radiator hose or a thermostat malfunction. If it’s a stoppage in the hose, rust can collect. When that happens, the only effective solution to prevent your car from overheating is to either replace the radiator, or disassemble and clean it.

Potential Consequences Of Overheating

When temperatures climb far above 220 degrees Fahrenheit within your vehicle’s engine, it will begin pinging and lose power. If you try to continue driving, and the pinging persists, the rod bearings and pistons can be damaged. Another effect of overheating is the head gasket can swell and rupture. This will usually be followed by a reduction in torque. Finally, in older vehicles, aged parts and hoses that are less tolerant to extreme heat can burst. At that point, replacing your car’s engine may be the only viable option.

If your engine overheats, take your car to a mechanic immediately. Even if the issue is only related to a coolant leak, have the problem repaired as soon as possible. Otherwise, the potential damage could reach several hundreds of dollars.

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How Your Car Slows To A Stop

When it all comes down to it, the master cylinder is one of the most important parts of an automobile. If it fails, you are going to have to be able to understand exactly what’s going on. The master cylinder is a prevention tool that has been put into place for the braking systems on vehicles. It is a remarkable creation, considering that it helps prevent the brakes from failing. Below, I’ll explain the basics regarding how this part works.

Basic Operation Of The Master Cylinder

Each set of wheels is broken up into their own circuit. When one circuit fails, the other one will still work which allows the vehicle to be able to stop on one set of brakes.

The master cylinder is what pressurizes each circuit. When a brake pedal is depressed, this part will use a linkage in order to push on the primary piston. When the primary piston is pushed, pressure will begin to increase in the master cylinder and brake lines. How much pressure is built depends upon how far down the pedal is being pressed. The primary and secondary piston work together in order to compress the fluid into the secondary circuit. If your brakes are working correctly, the pressure within both circuits will be similar.

When a circuit leaks, that line won’t be able to hold pressure. Even though the other circuit will be able to work, the driver may just have to push down a little bit further on the pedal in order to trigger it effectively. If you have a leaking circuit, it is crucial that you get it fixed urgently.

Learning About Your Vehicle

The fact that so many people are unaware that the master cylinder even exists – much less understand its operation – is a testimony to the low level of knowledge that most motorists have about their vehicles. As you know, my goal in these articles is to slowly develop a core of automotive information that you can draw upon when your car is experiencing problems. Too often, drivers are unwilling to challenge the suggestions of mechanics, even if those suggestions make little sense.

In future articles, we’ll continue to dig under the hood to examine other car parts that are an integral part of your vehicle’s operation. In most cases, people stand to gain enormous benefit from educating themselves. Occasionally, their safety on the road may depend upon it.

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