Despite being one of the vital safety components, most car owners overlook the importance of the brakes. So, AMSOIL Dealer - Carol Bell in Austin has prepared this guide to understand the brake system.

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Previously, AMSOIL Dealer - Carol Bell has touched on preventive brake care. Thus, to complement this topic, this post will focus on everything you need to know about the brake system.

A Quick History Dive on Brake Systems

Did you know that steam-powered wagons' first iteration of the brake system needed a piece of wood to stop? Back then, people needed to push against a metallic coil to condense the wheel. As a result, this action rendered adequate friction to delay the vehicle. Yet, wood chunks were bygone when rubber was introduced into the picture. This paved the way for Gottlieb Daimler's invention, where a drum could slow down the vehicle using a wire rope mechanism. Thereupon, Louis Renault started to include them in his automobile company in the early 1900s.

There Were Still Improvements to Be Made

Although Daimler's creation was revolutionary at first, it didn't take long for it to render problems. Due to its exterior design, this brake system was unguarded from water, mud, dirt, and other harming elements. Not to mention the unwavering changes in temperature, which could influence the brakes' operation. So this led to another iteration of drums with brake shoes fitted with brake linings.

Let's Get the Story Straight

Allegedly, there was a need to generate a hydraulic design to handle disc brakes. Yet, both disc brakes and drum brakes were introduced in 1902. In reality, makers didn't include disc brakes much until the midpoint of the 20th century. At that moment, there was no choice but to develop mechanisms to cool down quicker due to increased speeds. Brakes have endured many changes throughout history. For starters, mechanically operated drum brakes struggled more to engage. Thus, to make them easier to use, Malcolm Loughead devised a new system in 1918. In short, his method reduces the speed using hydraulic pressure to move the piston while pressing the drum shoes into the drum's interior. This simple system was so popular that most manufacturers included it in fluid-activated brakes.

Look at the AMSOIL catalog before you get into the rabbit hole of online searching for oil formulas. The oil specialists at AMSOIL Dealer - Carol Bell in Austin will be happy to suggest top-of-the-line products. Feel free to check out their website or dial (512) 658-0357 to place an order.

The Importance of Brake Fluid

Please don't be naive and assume that brake fluid isn't necessary. This product stimulates the power wielded by the brake pedal and circles back to the wheel cylinders. It may not seem like it, but this mechanism is crucial for adequate braking operation. If you want to understand the brake system, choose a brake fluid that matches your car's needs. You can't let this product go bad, so try changing it before it does. As a rule, you should check the brake fluid yearly and change it every 2 or 3 years. Yet, that depends on how often and how much you use your car.

Learn the Differences between Brake Fluids

This product moves the heat caused by the friction between the brake pads and the discs or drums. So, in its liquid form, the viscosity can thin out or even reach a boiling point, affecting the pressure it yields. Therefore, this product comes in different grades to resist and operate in harsh temperatures. The key to choosing the correct brake fluid is opting for one that enables pressure transfer without compressing it.

What Does Dot Mean?

Brake fluids with a DOT numeral indicate that they can resist high temperatures. That means they will be less likely to boil and render the system useless. These are mainly used in high-performance cars and heavy-towing vehicles. Yet, as the digits decrease, so does the brake's fluid boiling point. Ultimately, if you want to understand the brake system, follow the suggestions in your car's owner's manual and see which grade you should use.

The brake system needs a fluid that endows proper ABS and stress control to operate smoothly. AMSOIL's DOT 3 and DOT 4 Synthetic Brake Fluid meets those needs while keeping the brake system in prime shape.

If you don't know how to choose brake fluids, get in touch with AMSOIL Dealer - Carol Bell in Austin! Their team is ready to suggest AMSOIL alternatives to maintain the brake system. Call (512) 658-0357 or visit the AMSOIL website to learn more about the brand before placing an order.