Understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions about your brake pad cost and ensure you get the best value for your investment
What are brake pads and how do they affect your car?
Brake pads convert the kinetic energy of a vehicle to thermal energy through friction. Two brake pads are contained in the brake with their friction surfaces facing the rotor.[1] When the brakes are hydraulically applied, the caliper clamps or squeezes the two pads together onto the spinning rotor to slow and stop the vehicle. When a brake pad heats up due to contact with the rotor, it transfers small amounts of its friction material onto the disc, leaving a dull grey coating on it. The brake pad and disc (now both having the friction material), then “stick” to each other, providing the friction that stops the vehicle.
In disc brakes, there are usually two brake pads per disc rotor, they both function together. These are held in place and actuated by a caliper affixed to the wheel hub or suspension upright. Racing calipers, however, can utilize up to six pads, with varying frictional properties in a staggered pattern for optimum performance. Depending on the properties of the material, the weight of the vehicle and the speeds it is driven at, disc wear rates may vary.
Understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions about your brake pad cost and ensure you get the best value for your investmen
The brake pads must usually be replaced regularly (depending on pad material). Most brake pads are equipped with a method of alerting the driver when this needs to be done. A common technique is manufacturing a small central groove whose eventual disappearance by wear indicates the end of a pad’s service life. Other methods include placing a thin strip of soft metal in a groove, such that when exposed (due to wear) the brakes squeal audibly. A soft metal wear tab can also be embedded in the pad material that closes an electric circuit when the brake pad wears thin, lighting a dashboard warning light.
Credits to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_pad
Regular Brake Inspections
Your vehicle relies on the power of friction to stop your vehicle, The more frequent you use your brake pad the faster the acceleration of wear on the brake pads. Regular inspction of the brake components can reduce the cost of expensive brake disc replacement & also defects in the brake system
We recommend that on ever service the brake pad be measured and the reading should be correlated to the specifications as per your vehicles manufacture. The more wear on a brake pad the increased risk of Brake disc wear and warping.
A brake disc will warp when the heat between the two brake pads increase to a level that the disc cannot dissapate. The rapid heating and cooling causes the brake disc to deform or warp under extreme heat & pressure.
Once a brake disc is warped there will be signs of the defects. Here are some common failure
- Shudder on the steering wheel indicates a issue on the front axle of the vehicle
- Shudder on the body, epecially on the seats are generally associated with the rear axles
- Uneven wear of the brakes [Angular wear]
- Accerelated wear of the pads
- Incorrect stopping or braking distance on your vehicle
- Boiling of the brake fluid [Due to the excessive heat absorption caused by a defective braking systems]
- Pulsation on the brake pedal while depressed
- Damage to the electronic system ABS module or failure
- And more other issues
Brake fluid Replacement
Brake fluid is a hygroscopic [This means it has the ability to absorb moisture from the atmosphere or system it is contained in] The more moisture content present in Brake fluid the lower the boiling point. Dot 4 brake & Dot 5.1 have specific boling points of 220 degrees & 240 degrees respectively
When brake fluid is worn the brake system will require increased brake pedal pressure to stop the vehicle, further to this the mositure content can damage the folloiwng components
- Brake master cylinder
- Brake wheel cylinders
- ABS pump actuators
- Brake lines & hoses
- Caliper pistons & seals
- Increased brake wear
It is recommended by most manufactures that the brake fluid be replaced either every 12 months or 60 000km intervals.
At DNA Auto Centre, we use state of the art brake fluid tester that are designed to give us the most accurate reading on the specific boiling point of your vehicles brake fluid
Cost of repairs
When your vehicle brake Pads fail, The brake pad cost is the least concerning factor, The brake disc, Wheel cylinders and calipers could be costly factors. We therefore recommend that on every service interval the brake fluid be tested & the brake system be serviced to prevent expensive brake repairs
Should you have a shudder on your brakes or a brake squeal noise rather bring your vehicle the the brake experts that can correctly diagnose and repair your vehicles braking system to prevent failure
al our brake pads cost are premier quality part
Contact us on 0315691417 or email us on info@dnaautocentre.co.za