The sight of smoke coming from your wheel area along with a burning smell is something that will cause most drivers to get nervous about. But how serious is it really? Smoking brakes can mean anything from a minor issue that often resolves itself to a major safety concern that needs immediate attention. Let’s look … Read more
A parking brake has ONE job. If it can’t do that job, it’s rather useless. Yet parking brake problems are surprisingly common, affecting both manual and electronic systems. No matter the type of problem, a faulty parking brake can be more than just an annoyance, it’s a safety issue. Let’s look at some of the … Read more
If you’ve ever seen the recent movie Gran Turismo, you may recall a scene where Jann plows through a corner and crashes because his brakes were glazed. Upon closer inspection, the mechanic confirmed the young driver was correct, which explained the reason he overcooked the corner. Simply put, glazed brake pads are brake pads that … Read more
The brake system in your vehicle allows the driver to slow down or stop in a consistent and reliable manner. The brakes on your car work by converting the kinetic energy of movement into thermal energy (heat). Each time you step on the brake pedal, the speed of the spinning wheels underneath your vehicle is … Read more
Brake calipers are important components of the braking system. A seized brake caliper (also called a sticking brake caliper) is what happens when the brakes clamp down, but don’t release when you take your foot off the brake pedal. Common Sticking Brake Caliper Symptoms Below are seven of the most common symptoms of brake caliper … Read more
Combustion engines operate on the principle of burning things to go faster. Ironically, you’re not supposed to smell anything burning while you’re driving down the road. If you do encounter a burning smell while in or around your vehicle, it’s important to identify the source and correct the problem. Some burning materials are very dangerous … Read more
Modern vehicles have what is known as an anti-lock braking system. The purpose of this system is to keep the driver safe by preventing the wheels from locking up as you apply the brakes. That way, you can keep control over the steering and your vehicle won’t skid as a result of the wheels locking … Read more
When you push down on the brake pedal a little, you’re telling your car to slow down a bit. When you apply maximum force to the brake pedal, you’re saying you want to slow down as fast as possible. But even when stomping on the brake pedal, it shouldn’t go all the way down to … Read more
The braking system of a vehicle is often built with an extra feature called a vacuum brake booster. The purpose of the brake booster is to create more pressure in the braking system. For instance, when you step on the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle, the brake booster ensures that the brake master … Read more
A vehicle will not be driveable without properly functioning brakes. If your braking system were to ever malfunction, it may very well be attributed to a brake fluid leak. There are four places in the braking system where a leak could take place. There could be one in the brake master cylinder, the front brake … Read more