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All the security systems that our car incorporates are important, but if there is one that can be decisive to avoid an accident and especially when this is imminent, it is the brake system. The brakes are one of the main safety systems of any vehicle, and a basic understanding of how this system works will help us interpret possible signs of failure and also make us aware of the importance of maintenance. And it is that despite the fact that 97% of drivers think that the brakes are the most important safety system in their car, only 13.5% of Spanish drivers would know detect if your brake system has a problem according to a manufacturer study
Roadhouseas collected
Midas.
Many defects in this system, or even possible serious breakdowns, are overlooked by many drivers because they gradually adapt to abnormal operation. One of the first sensations we have when we use another car is the change in the feel of the pedals. The hardness of the clutch or brake pedals is usually different from what we are used to in our car and we may even notice that braking is more or less effective than usual.
Due to wear, the brakes progressively lose effectiveness and the driver adapts to these changes. Over time, the braking distance increases, the pedal becomes more spongy, until another person is not driving our car and tells us: but your car brakes badly! We do not realize that we have a problem. For this reason, they explain aspects that we must take into account:
–spongy brake pedal: Although the driver gets used to the feel of the pedal, there comes a time when it becomes excessively spongy. The cause can be found in a very deteriorated brake fluid, leaks in the brake circuit, air in the same circuit or a defect in the brake master cylinder or cylinders. The brake fluid is fundamental in the operation of the system since it transmits the pressure. This liquid is not compressed, but it is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture. The vapor bubbles are compressed, which act as a cushion within the circuit and produce that sensation in the pedal. Manufacturers recommend replacing this fluid every 2, something that is unknown to many drivers, since that feeling of insecurity is not perceived as it happens with other elements.
–Noises and vibrations: Vibrations can be due to different reasons: abnormal tire wear, unbalanced wheels, wheel bearings; but when they are due to the brake system, they may be due to deformation of the brake discs or irregularly worn pads. The wear of the brake discs, like that of other elements, depends a lot on the way each driver drives and the maintenance given to the vehicle. For example, not changing bad pads in time and continuing to drive with them can cause abnormal wear on the brake disc and cause a worse breakdown. For its part, the wear of the pads has a ‘sneak’; Today most vehicles have a warning light on the dashboard, otherwise a metallic noise will reveal the poor condition of the pads. When this noise appears, it may be due to wear or excessive crystallization due to overheating of the surfaces. In both cases it is necessary to replace the pads.
–Longer braking distance: Needing more and more space to stop can be due to other factors such as road surface, load, suspension or bad tires. But if we stick to the braking system, this increase in braking distance is due to the wear of the elements that make it up. For braking to be effective, a series of circumstances must be met. Firstly, that the transmission of force is ideal for which both the operation of the brake booster and the state of the brake fluid play a fundamental role, and secondly that the effectiveness of the pad-disc, shoe-drum assembly is optimal. In the latter case, when there is wear on these parts, there is a notable loss of efficiency, which will result in an increase in distance. In addition to increased braking distance, we may encounter unexpected skids.
