As sure as eggs is eggs, there are some things you can guarantee in life. Like rain on a Bank Holiday weekend, a surprising upset in the early rounds of the FA cup and the two most obvious answers remaining when you take a 50/50 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But similarly, when you’re heading towards the back end of another car at 50mph you want all the guarantees in the world you’ll stop before you have to exchange details with the slowcoach in front. You’ll want your brakes to work and your ABS to operate.
The braking system on most modern vehicles will consist of vented disc at the front and solid disc at the rear. This is because most of the braking force is done at the front of the vehicle, because that’s where all the weight is. The principles of braking rely on friction but the problem with friction is it creates heat. And although we want a little bit of heat in our brakes and our tyres, excessive heat is the enemy of braking. When brakes overheat and you press your brake pedal, your brakes become less effective.
One of the ways that we can get rid of excessive heat is by having vented discs.
On more powerful sports cars, designers also create vents in the bodywork to force air to flow over the discs to help reduce their temperature at high speed.
The idea of a vented disc is that between the two solid discs, is an air gap with fins. And as the disc spins, all of the excessive heat that’s collected in the disc is flung outwards and expelled.
So going back to your principles of friction, wherever you get friction, you get heat and you also get wear. This brake pad is in a real state and has seen better days.
The pad would have been about four times the thickness when it was new. So brakes should be checked regularly for signs of wear, corrosion, leaks, damage and overall efficiency.
Regular maintenance of your tyres and brakes is essential for safe driving. By keeping an eye on tyre condition and ensuring your brakes are in good shape, you can drive with confidence, knowing you’re prepared for whatever the road throws at you. Remember, it’s not just about having a fast car, it’s about having a safe one. Stay safe out there!
