Automotive Brakes
Introduction And How They Work

Brakes are without a doubt the most important safety component of our vehicles. It is just as important to be able to stop our car or truck as it is to make it go. It can be easy to take brakes for granted, but occasionally we get into a tricky situation and are soon reminded how important good working brakes are.

Brakes perform a demanding task. It takes 10 times more energy to stop a vehicle than to power it. Hydraulic pressures in brake lines can exceed 1000 pounds of pressure. Brakes create a significant amount of heat. For these reasons, brakes need to be serviced regularly to keep them in good working order.

How brakes work

What's a Master Cylinder?

Disc brakes - explained

Drum brakes - explained

Brake pads & shoes

Brake valves

Parking brakes

Common brake problems

Fix your brakes

Common questions & answers

Common misconceptions

Brake dictionary

Test your knowledge

How to avoid brake repair fraud