The Importance of Brake Pads, Calipers, and Rotors

Posted May 16, 2024

All vehicles have hydraulic brake systems that require you to press on a brake pedal to make a master cylinder initiate braking power on all four wheels. A hydraulic brake line leads to each brake to make the calipers, brake pads, and rotors work together, so you can stop safely. According to Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, bad brakes cause about 300,000 vehicular collisions every year. Here’s why brake services are important to maintain brake pads, calipers, and rotors on your daily driver and any other vehicle.

Brake Pads Enable Slowing and Stopping

Brake pads contain friction material that grips rotors to slow and stop your vehicle. The friction material is designed to wear away slowly and gradually over tens of thousands of miles while enabling you to control vehicle speed and stop safely. Metal rivets hold the friction material in place on the brake pads, and each wheel has two to squeeze against a rotor on both sides. Because the friction material wears away slowly, the rotors don’t get damaged unless you ignore the brake pads until they are worn away before having brake services done.

Calipers Squeeze Brake Pads Against Rotors

The brake pads can’t press against steel rotors without the brake calipers. A caliper fits over the brake rotor on each wheel and holds a brake pad on each side. When you step on the brake pedal, the master cylinder sends the hydraulic pressure to the caliper, which has one or more pistons. Each piston presses the brake pads against the brake rotors, which creates the friction needed to slow your vehicle or bring it to a safe stop. Each caliper has a hydraulic brake line connecting it to the master cylinder in the engine compartment, which gives you the stopping power when you step on the brake pedal.

Hardened Steel Rotors Stop Wheel Rotation

All four wheels have a brake rotor with a smooth and flat surface on both sides, so the brake pads can do their work. When the pads squeeze against them, the rotors slow the wheel rotation until they eventually stop. Common brake services include inspecting brake rotors to ensure they are wide enough and have a flat, smooth surface. A technician can turn them to restore a flat surface or replace them if they are badly worn.

If you’re in need of brake services to restore the safety of your vehicle, look no further than our team at Veenstra’s Garage. Contact us today for more information or to schedule a brake repair!