The braking system is by far the most important safety system present in any vehicle. They perform the toughest possible job which is to slow down or completely stop your vehicle whenever needed at just a moment’s notice with a moderate press of a pedal that helps to avoid an accident.
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We tend to take our brakes for granted. Braking systems consist of several different components that work in sync to perform the job effectively. You just press the pedal and the system works, however, time after time the sheer physics of this process causes wear & tear on these components. Improperly working brakes will not do the job they are designed to do and will not be as effective when needed, especially in a sudden stop situation.
Most vehicles today are equipped with disc brakes, while some have a drum brake setup for the rear wheels. There are some cars that have all 4-wheel disc brake setup, but whether disc or drum the phenomenon remains pretty much the same. Your foot presses the brake pedal that displaces an incompressible fluid and causes calipers to squeeze a rotor that is attached to the wheels and stop the motion by friction. The mediator between the caliper and rotor are the brake pads, which are made of abrasive material and designed to take the majority of the wear & tear.
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Other than driving & regular wear, the environmental conditions can also take their toll on your vehicle’s brakes. Driving your car in excessive rainwater, which is quite a common situation in our country, can have quite a negative impact on your vehicle’s brakes. Also, excessive dust & dirt accumulated in the braking system can also compromise on its efficiency.
All braking components need to be in good shape and in optimum working condition for the vehicle to have a completely effective brake system. Brakes should be regularly inspected, check for uneven wear of the pads and shoes, check rotors and other hardware to make sure it is working properly. Make sure the wheel cylinders, brake lines, and brake master cylinder are not leaking, inspect calipers for wear, free movement, and fluid leaks, and check the level as well as the condition of brake fluid. Inspect antilock brake sensors if your vehicle is equipped with ABS.
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Follow your vehicle’s owner manual to perform periodic brake service. It’s a good idea to keep inspecting brakes after 10,000 km but it depends a lot on your driving and traffic conditions. Vehicles driven with a gentle foot will see their brakes last longer, as compared to those which are driven at higher speeds and require the brake system a continuous job to bring the vehicle to a halt in regular intervals.
If you want your vehicle braking system to be inspected or serviced, one of the better options is to get the job done in front of your eyes. And that’s exactly where MechanicUstaad comes in handy. MechanicUstaad is an online mechanic platform that provides reliable and expert mechanics at the convenience of your doorstep. It takes less than 2 hours for them to perform brake service at your desired location, that too against some very nominal charges. Already serving individual and corporate fleet clients, MechanicUstaad is rapidly making its name in Karachi and is in the process of expanding its operations to other major cities of the country.
And here is the best deal, subscribers & followers of CaprSpiritPK can avail special 10% discount on basic & advanced brake services by using Promo Code: MUCSBS20. For more details visit: www.mechanicustaad.pk/car/ or contact them via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MechanicUstaad.pk
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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