Full Answer
What's wrong with the brakes on my Volkswagen?
Car brakes may just be the most important safety feature on any car. Maintaining them is crucial, but a lot of people don’t understand how brakes work or what to look for to know whether they’re operating properly. In addition to the obvious safety reasons, maintaining your brakes will help with resale value.
What is a disc brake?
In a disc brake, two pads are placed on both sides of a rotating metal disc called a rotor. To help the vehicle slow down, these two pads push against the rotor. Brake pads are made from high-friction materials, while the discs are often made from gray iron. However, in high-performance cars, brake pads may also be made of ceramic or carbon fiber.
What is a drum brake?
In drum brakes (usually only on older cars), brake shoes are inside a rotating metal drum. When you use the brakes, the shoes push outward against the drum. The friction between the brake shoes and the inner surface of the drum slows the car down. Drum brakes tend to be less efficient than disc brakes.
Why do brakes feel spongy?
Spongy brakes are generally the result of air, gas or water inside the hydraulic system. Car brakes use a hydraulic fluid that transfers force through high-pressure brake lines. If you’ve got something other than brake fluid inside those lines, the brake fluid is less efficient in transferring force. That leads to a spongy feel at the brake pedal.
What does ABS mean? How do ABS brakes work?
ABS stands for anti-lock brakes, a braking system that has been standard on all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the United States since 2013.
What can affect the performance of a car brake?
One of the factors that you need to look for in a car brake is the peak force. This refers to the maximum force a brake can apply. It determines how fast a brake can slow down a car. Another important factor is fade.
Why Does This Happen?
This usually happens with older/less-common vehicles or if the manufacturer no longer makes vehicles. And certain repairs don’t apply to every make & model.
