Brake Service Do You Know The Facts

Monitoring the health of your brakes is one of the most vital aspects of car ownership. However, many drivers don’t understand the importance of regular brake service or repair until they find themselves sliding through a stop sign or rear-ending the vehicle in front of them!

As a smart driver, you are aware that properly working brakes are essential to vehicle safety and reliability. To keep your brakes working efficiently and effectively, schedule a brake service at least once a year. You want peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will come to a precise and complete stop.

As a vehicle owner, you may find the facts about brakes below of interest:

The power generated by the braking system of a medium-sized car can exceed 500bhp (brake horse power), outstripping the engine output of virtually everything on the road.
The first production car with hydraulic brakes (using pipes and fluid rather than cables) was the 1920 Duesenberg, an American luxury car with a “straight eight” engine. Chrysler brought the now universal feature to mass-produced cars in 1924.
The legendary Dunlop-developed disc brakes that helped Jaguar win the Le Mans 24-Hour race in 1953 were then referred to as “plate brakes.”
Formula One racing is where the most advanced brakes are found.
The 1967 Porsche 911S was the first production car to feature ventilated disc brake rotors. Now common, these rotors have cooling channels running between the two friction surfaces to give better cooling and therefore better resistance to brake fade during heavy applications.
Under extreme conditions, the operating temperatures of modern braking components can average nearly 350C, requiring that they need exceptional wear resistance, heat resistance and stopping capabilities.
Harmful agents such as asbestos, lead and cadmium have been removed from modern brake pads. Today’s pads contain mixtures of fibers, fillers, lubricants and a binder resin.
The mass of disc brake rotors has increased over recent years to improve noise suppression, smoothness and stopping performance.
Once considered one of the simplest parts of a car to manufacture, today’s disc brake rotors are high-tech electronically monitored brake systems. Tolerances need to be extraordinarily tight because the slightest shudder can confuse the car’s anti-lock braking system.

Looking for a quality brake service? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at A&C Automotive & Machine by calling 651-674-4733, or go online at http://aandcautomotive.com for more information. Since 1985, our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in North Branch, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Harris and Stacy, MN