2010 Ford Mustang: The 2010 Mustang GT promises a more-dynamic driving experience thanks to chassis improvements pioneered on Ford Racing programs and the popular Mustang Bullitt line. Adjustments were made to the springs, stabilizer bars and shocks to better balance the ride, steering and handling for all models.
All the safety systems that our car incorporates are important, but if there is one that is really decisive in avoiding an accident and especially when it is imminent, it is the braking system. Brakes are the main safety system in any vehicle and it is also the oldest, as you would expect.
Avoiding colliding with another vehicle, not hitting a pedestrian or not leaving the road will largely depend on whether we can stop safely in time. The skill of the driver at this time is essential, but if it is not accompanied by an optimal functioning of the braking system, the maneuver can end in failure and, also, in a possible misfortune.
Here at Alpha Mechanics we help you keep your car working at full potential for the longest time possible and saving you all hassle and trouble from having to take your vehicle to the mechanic.
If your car sounds this weird, bad. These are the symptoms that may indicate.
A basic knowledge of the operation of this system will help us to interpret possible signs of failure and also to become aware of the importance of maintenance. And it is that despite the fact that 97% of drivers believe that brakes are the most important safety system in their car, only 13.5% of Spanish drivers would know how to detect if their brake system has a problem according to a Roadhouse study.
Basic operation of brakes
Mechanical, hydraulic and electronic systems make up the operation of the brakes. The driver operates the system through a pedal, this force that he exerts is amplified by a brake booster that acts on a pressure pump. By means of a system of pipes and hydraulic cylinders, the brake pads or the shoes in the case of drum brakes are actuated.
Pads or shoes stop the rotors by friction, which can be in the form of discs or drums, which rotate in solidarity with the wheel, causing it to stop. The configuration is very different in case of being a disk or a drum. Disc brakes have, as their name suggests, a disc-shaped rotor that is pressed by a caliper that incorporates the pads. The drums, on the other hand, are something like a hollow wheel inside which the shoes are hidden, which come to be the pads of disc brakes, but instead of pressing on the outside, they friction the internal walls of the hollow wheel. This type of brakes can suffer major problems of overheating and loss of braking power and that is why they have been discontinued. They are currently used in very small or low-cost cars, but only on the rear wheels.
Aided by electronic systems such as ABS that prevents the wheels from locking, braking effectiveness is optimized and the driver can control the vehicle in the event of emergency braking.
The development of aid and assistance to the driver in this system has evolved a lot in recent years. Toyota incorporates the Toyota Safety Sense which, among other systems, has a Pre-collision Safety System, which if it detects the possibility of a collision, in addition to alerting the driver, activates the braking assistance. If the driver does not brake in time, the brakes are activated automatically to avoid or mitigate the collision.
Custom makes us overlook things
Once we have a basic idea of how the brakes work, we move on to the possible signals that the system sends us when they are in bad condition. It is important to know the car and how its brakes work, since each vehicle is different and everything may go perfectly and it may not seem so to us.
Many defects in this system, or even possible serious breakdowns, are overlooked by many drivers because they gradually adapt to an abnormal operation.
Many drivers do not perceive the wear as they get used to the touch of the pedal
One of the first sensations we have when we use another car is the change in the feel of the pedals. The hardness of the clutch or brake pedals is usually different from what we are used to in our car and it is possible that we even notice that the braking is more or less effective than usual.
Due to wear, the brakes gradually lose effectiveness and the driver adapts to these changes. As time goes by, the braking distance increases, the pedal becomes spongier, and until another person does not drive our car and tells us: how bad your car brakes! We do not realize that we have to take it to the workshop to check the brakes.
- We can be guided by some reactions or sensations
The brakes are of vital importance, it has already been commented although it does not hurt to remember it. They are absolutely essential and a system in poor condition is, most likely, the cause of an accident. It may not be now, and it may not be later, but it will happen. Thus, therefore, we are going to list some symptoms that must be taken into account.
- Spongy brake pedal
Although as we said at the beginning, the driver gets used to the touch of the pedal, there comes a time when it becomes excessively spongy. The cause can be found in badly deteriorated brake fluid, leaks in the brake circuit, air in the same circuit or a defect in the brake master cylinder or cylinder.
Brake fluid is essential in the operation of the system as it transmits pressure. This liquid is not compressed, but it is hygroscopic, that is, it absorbs moisture. The vapor bubbles are compressed, thereby acting as a cushion within the circuit and producing that sensation on the pedal.
Manufacturers recommend replacing this liquid every 2 or 4 years, something that is unknown by many drivers and ignored by others, since that feeling of insecurity is not perceived as it happens with other elements.
- Noise and vibrations
Vibrations can be due to different reasons: abnormal tire wear, wheel bearings, steering alignment; But when they are due to the braking system, they can be due to a deformation of the brake discs or to pads with irregular wear.
The wear of the brake discs, like that of other elements, depends a lot on the way each driver drives and the maintenance that is given to the vehicle. For example, not changing bad pads in time and continuing to drive with them can lead to abnormal wear on the brake disc and lead to a worse breakdown.
Here at Alpha Mobile Mechanics you are also part of the team, so we explain every detail related to the process and keep you aware of the way we complete this process. For more information about our services and how we can help you with on-spot diesel injectors maintenance do not hesitate to contact us. We’re expecting your call now!