Know the brake types of each car
One of the most important systems of the vehicle, the brakes are usually only remembered when they present some type of failure. Checking the set regularly and replacing any defective parts ensures safety for the occupants and also other road users. The device can be of two types: disc or drum.
Disc drives are better. In addition to being more efficient, they have greater durability and withstand severe situations for long periods, such as mountain descents or reductions made from high speeds.
Not all disc brakes are the same: there are three types. Solids are the cheapest and are on the front axle of most entry cars sold in Brazil - these models often use drums at the rear. Examples include versions 1.0 of Chevrolet Onix, Hyundai HB20 and Ford Ka, for example.
Ventilated discs are used on the front axle of larger or more powerful cars (such as the Ka 1.5, for example). This system has two parallel components, with a ventilation space between them (imagine a stuffed cookie, but without the cream in the middle).
Its biggest advantage is the ability to quickly dissipate the heat generated when braking. When the discs get very hot, they are very smooth, as if they were glazed.
The colder these parts are, the greater the friction between the discs and the brake pads. This is essential to ensure efficient braking.
Honda Civic, Jeep Renegade and Toyota Corolla are some examples of cars with ventilated discs at the front and solids at the rear. This is because in most models the front requires more powerful brakes because of the weight transfer from the rear axle to the front in case of a sudden stop, for example.
Ventilated discs on both axles are common mainly in sports, which demand a lot from the brake system.
There is also the ventilated and perforated disk, the most efficient type. Perforations further increase the cooling capacity and, therefore, friction.
“Drilling also helps to drain the water that accumulates between the pad and the disc when the car is driving on a wet track,” says the manager of Continental, a manufacturer of brakes, Carlos Minutti. To get more ideas, check out: best brake pads for cars
The expert says that the item that most requires attention in the system is the fluid - if there are bubbles, the braking capacity will decrease. The change must be made annually or as indicated in the vehicle manual.
Pads, discs and shoes (drum) should be changed, on average, every 30 thousand km. Severe use also decreases component durability.
PRICES
At Trabuco Centro Automotivo, on the west side, the complete maintenance of a Chevrolet Onix system is around R $ 1,000. The pair of discs costs R $ 310 and the pads, R $ 150. The set of rear brake shoes costs R $ 180.