Jun 2011 20

Your Car’s Brakes: Most Important Safety Feature

Can you imagine the damage and potential injuries that would be caused if your brakes didn’t work? Everyone will agree the most important safety feature on every car are the brakes. Massachusetts Nissan offers the following explanation of how car brakes work, and how you know when it’s time to replace or maintain your brakes to ensure they work whenever you need to use them:

What Makes a Car Stop

Ever wonder how your Nissan stops when you push the brake pedal? Car braking systems rely on brake pads, linings and rotors which are located next to each of the car’s wheels. The brake system parts push against each other and create friction to stop the wheels from turning and bring the car to a stop. The harder and faster you push the brake pedal, the more friction is created and the faster the car comes to a stop.

Brake Varieties

Most Nissan vehicles have disc brakes, but there are two types of brakes that are found in vehicles. Disc brakes and drum brakes. Disc brakes work a lot like bicycle hand brakes – when you press your brake pedal, the brake pads squeeze the disc rotor which is attached to the car’s wheel, and the friction stops the wheel from turning. Drum brakes use brake shoes to push into the drum attached to the wheel, which creates friction to stop the car from moving. Both types of brakes wear out with use.

Signs You Need to Replace Your Brakes

If your car doesn’t stop as quick as it used to, the steering wheel shakes, or there is a grinding or squealing noise when you use your brakes, it’s a good time to replace your brakes. Call us for auto service in Boston and we can put new brakes on your car.