- When you apply your brakes, fluid comes out of the master cylinder and goes through the distribution block and back to either your wheel cylinder or caliper (figure A). That energy is then clamping the wheels and stopping the vehicle. There are different types of systems -- drum or disc brakes (all drum brakes on an older vehicle).
- When you hit your brake pedal, the piston goes forward and that power is forced through the power brake booster into the master cylinder (figure B). The master cylinder is where all the hydraulic fluid is pressurized out to the hydraulic brake system on your automobile. The brake fluid is stored on a reservoir on top of the master cylinder.
- The fluid comes out from the master cylinder through the junction block and is split in half (since 1967 brakes have had two chambers). This allows one half of the brake system to work if the other half doesn't work.
- The brake lines then bring it to the brake hoses (flexible rubber hoses at each wheel) and from there goes into a disc brake application at the caliper housing where a piston, either made of steel or ceramic, pushes out because of the hydraulic fluid. This causes the two brake pads to squeeze together (figure C) against the rotor.
The rotor (figure D) is the part that your tire and wheel assembly bolts to. It will stop the vehicle from spinning and that clamping motion causes the brake caliper to stop the car.
Drum brakes are systems that are more on the rear of the car because sixty percent of the braking is typically done by the front of the vehicle. More and more vehicles have front wheel disc brakes. They call them drum brakes because they are shaped a little like a drum (figure E).
When the brake shoes expand, they rub against the inner surface of the brake drum (figure F). That causes a braking effect upon the wheel and thus slows or stops the vehicle.
RESOURCES :
Dye Ink, Alcohol Ink
Ranger Industries, Inc.
Website: www.rangerink.com
Bend-Pak, Inc.
Website: www.bendpak.com
Gladiator GarageWorks Information
Gladiator GarageWorks
Website: www.gladiatorgw.com
Old World Industries, Inc.
4065 Commercial Ave.
Northbrook, IL 60062-1851
Website: www.oldworldind.com
Wix Filters
PO Box 1967
Gastonia, NC 28053-1967
Customer Service Phone: 704-864-6748
Website: www.wixfilters.com
WD-40 Company
Corporate Brand Support Centre
1061 Cudahy Place
San Diego, CA 92110-3929
Toll-free: 800-448-9340
Phone: 619-275-1400
Website: www.wd40.com
Making Sense of Car Care: AAA Auto Guide
1562515780
John Nielsen and Steve Bodofsky
(October 2001)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
American Automobile Association
GUESTS :
Jeff Lagges
Autozone
9412 Big Horn Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95758
Phone: 800-829-8727
Website: www.autozone.com
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