There are a lot of moving parts in any vehicle and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA sometimes becomes necessary. If you maintain your vehicle properly, with all the right tune-ups, you will likely be able to see repairs coming. Technicians will notice small things that are going wrong, so you are able to catch them early before they become a big deal. But of all the parts and things that could go wrong on your vehicle, the last thing you want to lose without warning are your brakes. In order to prevent that from happening and put yourself in serious danger, it’s nice to know how they operate. You know you put your foot on the brake pedal and your car slows, but what happens between?
The brakes are pretty amazing, when you think about it. They utilize a pedal to bring a large machine to a stop, even if you are driving very fast down the interstate. You don’t have to do much yourself in order to slow the car. Just push a pedal.
Moving vehicles have a lot of kinetic energy built up in them, especially when they are going very quickly. That type of energy is basically energy in motion. When you want to stop your car, your brakes have to take away that energy. Pushing your foot on the pedal connects you to a lever that pushes against a cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. That fluid will travel through your car’s system into lines with larger cylinders that are connected by a wheel. When fluid enters, they push the brake pads against the brake rotor. When the pads and rotor meet, the friction slows the outer wheels and tires, which makes your vehicle stop.
Does that sound like a foreign language to you? That’s okay. You don’t have to know a lot about brakes or your vehicle to understand when something going awry. All you really have to do is pay attention to what’s going on with your car. Is your car taking longer to slow down to a full stop? Are you hearing squealing noises when you depress the brake pedal? Those are signs that your brakes are on their way out. Usually, you just need new brake pads. If you catch the issue early enough, that’s a simple fix that can keep your car running safely for many more years. If you let the issue go, however, and the brake pads wear out completely, larger issues will loom in the near future.
If you think you need help with your brakes, or you need any kind of auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, contact the experts at Schafer’s Auto Center. Whether you’ve noticed a longer stopping distance or you hear a sound coming when you use your brakes, we’re here to help. Call SAR at (215) 755-1270 for an appointment or stop by and ask questions in person. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re here to help in any way we can.
