499 East Old Country Road
Hicksville, NY 11801
516-822-3671
Brakes
Your brakes are the single most important feature of your car. Regardless of how everything else works, if you can’t stop, it is going to be a bad day. Like everything else in newer cars, brake systems are highly computerized, complex systems designed to keep you safe. With sensors that can tell your vehicle about the road you are driving on, with the latest technology out there, cars and trucks can adjust the pressure brakes apply to each wheel, allowing you to stop quicker and avoid any danger up ahead.
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The more complex the system, the more sophisticated the tools and training required to repair them.
At Sonny's Auto Repair, we have the latest training and equipment needed to take care of your brakes and keep them working efficiently and effectively.
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Disk Brakes
Disk Brakes are the most common form of brakes on cars today. While older cars usually had disks in the front and drums in the rear, most new cars have disks on all four wheels. With disk brakes, when you apply your brakes, the calipers house the pads applied to the rotors. It seems simple enough. If you picture a bicycle tire, the pads on either side of the tire are squeezed together, applying pressure on the wheel to force it to stop. The concept of the disc brake is very similar.
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The Rotor is the part that looks like a disk. The pads are applied to the rotor to stop the car. Rotors need to be in perfectly flat, pristine condition to work efficiently. Therefore, rotors should be checked every 12,000 miles.
The brake pads are applied to the rotors. They sit in the calipers and are activated by the brake pistons. Like any surface faced with high amounts of friction, pads do wear down over time and need to be replaced. Depending on the pad's type and unique driving characteristics, pads can last anywhere from less than 25,000 to more than 60,000 miles. A visual inspection can let us know when pads need to be replaced. Also, if you hear squealing or other noises from your brakes, you should have them checked. It could mean your pads need to be replaced, or it could be a sign of a serious issue.
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Do not take any chances with your brakes. As we said, they are an essential part of your vehicle’s safety system.
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Drum Brakes
While disk brakes stop a vehicle by squeezing pads together on a rotor, drum brakes work by brake shoes housed inside of the drum, expanding outward onto the brake lining to slow and stop the wheel from turning. The brake shoes are moved and adjusted by a cam, which extends the shoes when you apply the brake, and a retracting spring brings the shoes back to their original position, allowing the vehicle to roll free.
While modern disk brakes are more efficient and have fewer moving parts than drum brakes, they are still a highly complex system tied to your vehicle's computer system, made more complex by additional safety features, such as the antilock braking system (ABS).
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While it is fun to discuss how fast your car can go and how quickly it can get up to speed, it all becomes irrelevant if you can’t stop the car.
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Come to Sonny's Auto Repair
Bring your car or truck to Sonny’s Auto Repair. We have the latest equipment, training, and real-world experience to make sure you will be able to get up to speed, and more importantly, stop when needed. Call us at 516.822.3671 or drop us a line here.