The Essentials of Brake Repair for Every Brit Car Owner

Brake repairing is one of the most essential tasks of maintaining a car. With regular check-up of your brakes, you will have control over your safety. Along with good driving habits, having some knowledge of the braking system can help in accurate maintenance. Before you visit a garage for Brake Repair in Preston, consider reading this post.

Types of Brakes:

1.    Mechanical Brakes

Hand brakes use this mechanism. This operates with a lever that activates a set of steel wire connections which create a tension in the brakes. The brake shoes hold the drum from rotating and hence, negating the momentum of rotating wheels.

2.    Hydraulic brakes

Hydraulic brake system uses brake fluid to transfer pressure from the brake pedal to the pads or shoe. When you press the pedal, brake fluid transfers this pressure to the brake pads. These brakes follow the law of hydraulics, utilising fluids of carrying viscosity to generate the necessary force for your car brakes to function.

3.    Power Brakes:

Power brakes are a notch above standard hydraulic brake systems. They have a booster located between the brake pedal and master cylinder, which helps in activating the brakes. Two types of power-assisted mechanism exist: vacuum-assisted and hydraulically assisted.

4.    Air Brakes:

Air brake systems consist of air compressor, air reserve tank, check valves and safety valves. It is similar to hydraulic brakes, the key difference being the medium of force transmission. Here the air works as the medium, applying the necessary pressure to the wheels.

Apart from these above constituents, modern brake system comes equipped with advanced technologies such as the EBD (Electronic Brake-force distribution or Electronic Brake-force limitation) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). It is advisable to leave these systems to experts in case of service requirements. However, these sophisticated technologies don’t develop faults that frequently. It’s the mechanical components which need most of the repair works.

Brake Maintenance Tips

Remember the following tips:

·         Whenever you are stopping at high speeds, always try and downshift while pressing down the brakes. This will take some of the functional pressure from the brake shoes and its other vital parts.

·         Never go to service stations who say they can ‘repair’ the most important brake parts. Brake components need replacements, not repairs.

·         Make sure to top up the brake fluid levels.

·         If possible, ensure that you get your brakes looked at once every 6 months. This is especially necessary if you drive on semi-urban and rural roads.

·         Get hold of your car owner’s manual. It will show you how to take good care of your brakes.

·         Always opt for the best brake replacements even if they are costlier than standard ones. You will get good service over longer spans of time even if you have to shell out a bit more.

 Hopefully, this information will help you to better administer the next brake repairing process. If you live in Preston and are looking for brake repair services and Engine Diagnostic in Preston, you may consider visiting a reliable auto garage like Preston Tyre Bay.