2. Disc Brakes
Disc brakes are fairly simple to work with,
once you know the parts and their
functions. Typically, there are 4 main
parts of a system:
Mounting Bracket
Rotor
Caliper
Pads
3. Mounting Brackets
Mounting Brackets are used to
hold the Caliper in place.
Other than keeping the surface
clean and free of rust and road
grime, there is very little to be
done with this part
4. Rotors
Rotors are metal discs supported by
the suspension. The Calipers
clamp on to them to slow their
rotation, and then slow or stop the
car
6. Vented Rotors
Vented Rotors have Fins in the spaces
between their machined surfaces.
These spaces allow air to pass through,
which helps carry heat away.
9. Rotor Repair
We will get back to these Rotors
later concerning what you can do as
a repair on them.
10. Calipers
Calipers are the housings that contain
the Pistons and the Brake Pads. The
Calipers are connected to the Hydraulic
System, and hold the brake pads to the
Rotor
12. Fixed Caliper
Fixed Calipers are disc brakes that use a
caliper that is FIXED in position and
does not slide. They have pistons on
both sides of the disc. There may be 2
or 4 pistons per caliper
17. Operation
Piston applies
pressure to
Inboard pad. As
the pad contacts
the rotor, the
caliper slides
along the pins,
pulling the
outboard pad into
contact.
Caliper
Rotor
Piston
Brake Pads
Brake
Line
22. Adjustments?
•Disc Brakes will automatically
self-adjust.
•As the Pads wear, the caliper
piston will not retract as far
•This leaves a larger amount of
brake fluid in the caliper, causing
the master cylinder level to lower
25. Cleaning Caliper
With the caliper off, I would use a wire
brush to clean the rust off, then use a
brake cleaning solvent to wash the sliding
area.
26. Wear Indicators
Brake pads wear,
and most people
never check
them. So,
something was
put on the pads
to make a noise,
since most
people will have
a noise checked
out.