Brakes

The Braking System is one of the most crucial systems in a car, as its functions directly influence the safety and control of a vehicle.

Most modern cars are fitted with disc brakes (a.k.a. rotors), or in the case of most utes, a combination of disc brakes in the front, and drum brakes in the rear.

Disc brakes and drum brakes both operate on the same principle – they convert kinetic energy (the rotation of the wheels) into heat energy via friction. When the kinetic energy has all been converted into heat, the wheels stop rotating and the vehicle stops.

In the case of disc brakes, the friction is caused by brake pads squeezing onto the disc. Similarly for brake drums, the friction is caused by brake shoes pressing onto the inner surface of the drums.

Over time, the friction wears away at the brake pads or shoes, and as its material thins away, so too does its ability to brake decline.

Thus brake pads are designed to be replaced regularly, and it is also the most commonly replaced component within the braking system.

Similarly, the disc brakes and drums also wear away due to friction, but at a much slower rate. Eventually, they too would also need to be replaced once they go below it’s minimum thickness, after which it is deemed no longer safe as it can no longer dissipate heat effectively.

Sometimes, the wear on the disc brakes can be uneven, and there could sometimes also be a build up of brake dust and frictive materials, thus causing the surface of the brake discs to become rough with thickness variations. This may ultimately cause shuddering or vibrations whenever the brakes are in use.

For such cases, we can machine the disc brakes with a brake lathe to even out the surfaces without you needing to replace the disc brakes entirely (unless of course they are below their minimum thickness).

Furthermore, we can also work on any other problems that can occur within the braking system. Just ask and we’ll help you out.