How Do Car Brakes Work?

Wondering to yourself: “How do car brakes work?” Ryan Chevrolet is here to provide answers! Basically, car brake systems have many components, and as Chevrolet vehicles are made with your safety top-of-mind, their brake systems utilize advanced technologies to ensure they’re working correctly. When they’re not, a system is designed to alert you of potential issues. Learn more about brake systems and how they operate now with our service center. Then, contact us with questions or schedule brake service online!

How Does the Brake System in My Chevrolet Work? 

The brake system in our Chevrolet is one of its most important systems, if not its most important system. There are two main types of brakes: disc brakes and drum brakes. Of course, there’s also the vehicle handbrake, otherwise known as the emergency brake. 

Here’s How Disc Brakes Work 

When you look through the wheels of a vehicle you can often see a metal disc inside. In this case, the vehicle in question is equipped with disc brakes. These types of brakes work in the following way:

Pressing the brake pedal applies a brake disc pad to the brake disc, causing the car to slow down and come to a stop due to the applied friction. Disc brakes on cars basically operate similarly to the brakes you’d find on bicycles. 

Here’s How Drum Brakes Work

Some vehicles have drum brakes on their rear wheels. They work somewhat differently than disc brakes do. Drum brakes are built inside the wheel and have two rugged brake shoes that are pushed in and out by pistons housed within a cylinder. Here’s how they work:

When you apply the brakes on a car with drum brakes, brake fluid enters the brake cylinder, the cylinder pushes out the pistons, and then the shoes connect with the drum. This all works together to bring your car to a stop. 

How a Vehicle’s Emergency Brake Works 

Usually, the emergency brake is found between the front seats inside a car. In this case it’s called a handbrake. Sometimes, though, emergency brakes are found in the vehicle’s floor near other pedals. Either way emergency brakes are completely mechanical and to be used in emergency situations, or when parked to keep a vehicle from sliding. Here’s how they work:

When the handbrake is pulled or the emergency brake is set with your foot, a lever system pulls on a pair of cables that put the brakes on the back wheels. As you pull it upward on a handbrake more, the handbrake tightens increasingly, applying more braking pressure. Emergency brakes can be used when your regular brakes fail to slow a vehicle down.

How to Maintain Your Car’s Brakes for Longer Life

Schedule service to get your vehicle’s brakes and brake pads checked at least once a year. In between checkups, be sure to also do the following:

• Watch and listen for the warning signs that there may be something wrong.
• Avoid braking when drivers in front of you are braking unnecessarily. 
• Coast to slow down before you apply the brakes. 
• Have your brake fluid levels checked often and replaced when needed. 

Signs Your Brakes May Need Service

If you hear, feel, or see any of the following signs, it’s likely that you’ll need to bring your vehicle into our service center ASAP for diagnostic and repair work:

• The brake light is on. 
• There are squeaking or grinding sounds when you brake. 
• You notice fluid is leaking. 
• You smell something burning from your vehicle.
• The vehicle bounces when you stop short. 

Trust Ryan Chevrolet for Better Brake Service in Minot 

Now that you’ve learned more about how car brakes work, we invite you to trust our service experts to diagnose and repair your brake issues or provide you with new brake pads, rotors, brake lines, brake fluid, and other brake-related service and maintenance. Give us a call at (701) 510-0061 or contact our service department directly for additional assistance. We’re here to help!