Suspension and Brakes

Brake pads aren’t something that a lot of people think about on a daily basis. The brake pads that auto manufacturer’s select for their vehicles are chosen based on select number of qualities, primarily noise, dust, stopping ability and wear. The ideal combination of these aspects is obviously low noise and dust, good stopping power and long pad life. That’s a lot to ask from a brake pad! Think about it, brake pads get a lot of abuse; they have to deal with high temperatures and be able to make friction occur on wet/dry/cold/hot rotors, and they have to do it repeatedly for fifty thousand miles or more! That’s pretty demanding, but somehow manufacturers have been able to engineer pads that meet these levels of performance.

So why do aftermarket pads even exist? If manufacturers have already figured out how to make an ideal brake compound that consistently stops cars and requires little to no maintenance, then why are there all these companies out there boasting they have better pads? Well, it’s a tough question to answer, but the main reason is for performance. You see, everyone measure performance on a different scale; do you want lots of pad-bite and maximum friction, or do you want a pad that will deal with repeatedly stopping heavy loads without wearing out in six thousand miles, or do you want something that is like what the original pads were like? That is the first step to choosing your next set of brake pads. If you want something that offers higher friction levels and faster stopping distances, then you’ll want a semi-metallic brake pad that was designed for light to heavy track use. If you want a pad that can deal with towing loads and four-wheeling, an extended wear pad would be your best choice. For the longest lasting, low-dust pad a ceramic compound would be optimal. There are a few manufacturers who make a semi-metallic ceramic compound that will supposedly offer high friction, low-dust and wear, but my personal experience has been that these pads are trying to be everything for everybody, but end up not being that great at anything.

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If you have an urge to stop faster in your tuner car, then upgrading to a big brake kit can be the most effective option for your car. Big Brake kits of reputed companies like Brembo, Rotora, Statis, AP Racing are all designed to decrease the stopping distance. This is done effectively by these big brake kits by increasing rotor size and piston bore.

Stock Brake systems are ideal for single 60 to 80 stop as well as for mundane daily driving. Quality Big Brake kits increases the heating capacity which in turn increases the resistance to brake fade and calliper distortion. A Big Brake Kit also proves to be a good decision for your car as it gives a better grip over components and better modulation.

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Braking is a lost skill. Although this is unfortunate, it is not unfounded. Most cars today are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (or ABS) so drivers simply slam on the brakes in any given situation. While this is not an entirely flawed technique, it may not be the best solution because handling capabilities are reduced, putting you in greater danger. Thus, learning to brake properly is important to ensure safety and control. It is also important in driver etiquette.

What is ABS?

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It’s best to learn to fix frequent car brake problems yourself as a price-saving measure. Braking systems are the most essential security feature within the car. It’s best to therefore diagnose braking problems often – do not wait till something is improper, because it may be too late. If the brake light is on, this is a sign that the brake fluid level is low. That is harmful because extreme friction in the brake pads causes wear and tear.

Another of the common brake problems is excessive-pitched squealing or scraping noises whenever you brake. This is a sign that the brake pads have undergone wear. One reason for this problem may be inadequate braking fluid within the braking system. Another potential cause is debris that may have found its way into the system. To resolve the problem, replace the braking fluid. If this noise appears like a grinding of metal-on-metal, this is a sign that the problem is beyond salvage. You should be careful when this occurs because it means there is a risk of ruining the drums or the rotors. To repair this problem, replace the pads.

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