When describing just how great something is, doesn’t that make more sense than “The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread”? Not that there’s anything wrong with sliced bread, but let’s be honest, if you had to choose between being able to stop your car, truck, or SUV when applying the brakes and being able to make a sandwich, we’re pretty sure you would opt for your car to stop! And without brake pads, you won’t be so lucky.
How brake pads work isn’t all that complicated. It’s all about the friction. You don’t have to be a physics major to understand their functionality. Picture sliding a shoebox across the floor. After a couple of seconds, due to the friction created between surfaces, the opposing force causes the box to stop moving. Stopping the motion of a vehicle is also due to pressure and friction, specifically that which is created between the brake pads and the rotor (brake disc). It may not be as simple as the shoebox scenario, but it’s also not overly complicated.
When you see a stop sign or a rascally rodent run in front of your car, what do you do? You step on the brakes. When you do this, the components of the braking system convert kinetic (moving) energy into heat through friction. This eventually brings the vehicle to a stop. The brake pads need to be able to hold up under this heat, so they must be made out of extremely tolerant materials.
The three types of brake pads are organic, ceramic, and metallic. Each has advantages and disadvantages. What’s more important than the type of pads, is brake maintenance and repair. You can only imagine the beating the pads take under such stress. To ensure safety, you’ll want to inspect them for wear and tear. How often they should be serviced depends on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as your driving habits. Check the manufacturer’s guide for the recommended service timeline. Typically, brakes should be inspected every 50,000 miles. For professional advice, contact the automotive experts at Lewis Automotive in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
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