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Brakes are the single most important safety system on your vehicle and you want them to be working properly! At IQ Auto Works our trained brake technicians have all the knowledge and tools required to
make sure your vehicles braking system is Tip Top. make sure your vehicles braking system is Tip Top.
Brake Time?
• Is your Brake Warning or ABS light on?
• Does your vehicle Squeak or grind when you depress the brake pedal?
• Is your brake fluid dark colored in the reservoir?
• Does your vehicle pull to one side or shudder when coming to a stop?
If so you probably need Brake system repairs. Here we have provided an in depth tutorial on how your brake systems work and why they are so important to pay attention to.
Brake Systems
The typical brake system consists of disk brakes in front and either disk or Drum Brakes in the rear connected by a system of tubes and hoses that link the brake at each wheel to the master cylinder. When you step on the brake pedal you are actually pushing against a plunger in the master cylinder, which forces hydraulic oil (brake fluid) through a series of tubes and hoses to the braking unit at each wheel. Since hydraulic fluid (or any fluid for that matter) cannot be compressed, pushing fluid through a pipe is just like pushing a steel bar through a pipe. Unlike a steel bar, however, fluid can be directed through many twists and turns on its way to its destination, arriving with the exact same motion and pressure that it started with. It is very important that the fluid is pure liquid and that there are no air bubbles in it. Air can compress, which causes a sponginess to the pedal and severely reduced braking efficiency. If air is suspected, then the system must be bled to remove the air. There are "bleeder screws" at each wheel cylinder and caliper for this purpose.
Disc Brake Systems
On a disk brake system the fluid from the master cylinder is forced into a caliper where it presses against a piston. The piston, in-turn, squeezes two brake pads against the disk rotor, which is attached to the wheel, forcing it to slow down or stop. This process is similar to a bicycle brake where two rubber pads rub against the wheel rim creating friction.
Drum Brake Systems
With drum brakes, fluid is forced into the wheel cylinder, which pushes the brake shoes out so that the friction linings are pressed against the drum, which is attached to the wheel, causing the wheel to stop.
In either case, the friction surfaces of the pads on a disk brake system, or the shoes on a drum brake convert the forward motion of the vehicle into heat. Heat is what causes the friction surfaces (linings) of the pads and shoes to eventually wear out and require replacement .
At IQ Auto Works we provide a multitude of
Brake repair services for your safety
• Brake inspections (free)
• Brake pad replacement
• Brake rotor replacement or resurfacing
• Brake shoe replacement
• Brake drum replacement or resurfacing
• Brake fluid flush and bleed
• Brake caliper replacement and lubrication
• Brake line replacement
• Abs (anti-lock system) diagnostics and repairs
