Braking system maintenance

Our Point S shops are at your disposal to carry out the maintenance of your full braking system. The braking system has a critical importance for the safety of the driver and it is therefore essential to have your brakes checked regularly. At Point S, we complete a front and rear brake inspection to make sure that all the components of your braking system work safely.

Brakes checkup and replacement

Brakes are essential for your security on the road. In that respect, our experts make a complete checkup of all the braking system in order to inspect each component. Each element is inspected and replaced if needed. And because at Point S, we think that security is not a matter of budget, we make sure that this service is at your disposal for an affordable price.

What is a braking system?

The braking system is complex and composed of a group of mechanical, electronic and hydraulical elements which use friction to make possible to slow down and stop the moving vehicle in the best conditions. A good braking system enables:

Stability in keeping track of the vehicle
Efficiency within a minimum time and distance
Progressiveness with braking proportional to the driver's effort
Comfort with minimum effort from the driver
Regulator
Tubing

Several components are part of braking system:

The brake pads enable to slow down the rotation of the wheel by pitching the discs. There are two pads per wheel, each side of the discs. The wear of a brake pad varies with the number of brakings and their intensity. Indeed, with each braking, the friction of the pads on the disk wears the filling of these two elements.
The brake discs are iron elements fixed to the wheel hub. They are used to slow down the wheel in order to stop the vehicle.

How does ABS Braking system work?

The ABS system (Anti-Locking System, from the German Anti blockier system) is mandatory by car manufactures since 2004. The goal of an ABS system is to prevent wheel lockup when braking suddenly and to enable the car to remain stable. The driver keeps the control of its vehicle in case of urgently braking and can avoid risks of accident.

During braking, the ABS system works with:

A hydraulic unit that regulates the brake fluid pressure
An electronic calculator that controls the hydraulic unit
A speed and target sensor, which monitors the speed of each wheel
An indicator on the dashboard that indicates malfunction

Brakes wear indicators

The brakes can be worn at two levels: the brake pads and the brake discs. Discover some indicators that can alarm you on the condition of your brakes.

Brake pad wear indicators

You will probably notice the wear of your pads by the flashing warning light on your dashboard.

But you can also take into consideration the following signs that will alarm you upstream:

A loss of efficiency in braking
Strident pads
The pedal declines more and more to the floor
Vibrations during braking
Check level of brake fluid. Indeed, when a plate wears, the master cylinder draws more oil.

You must therefore change the brake pads of your vehicle for an optimal braking before the lining is completely worn.

Brake discs wear indicators

Brake discs wear varies depending on the weight of the vehicle, the driving style, and the type of road you drive on. Indeed, a regular braking will use the discs more quickly than a good use of the engine brake. Be careful if you notice any of the following signs, it's time to have your brake discs checked :

When braking suddenly, a vibration is felt in the pedal
During a visual inspection, the discs are dug
On each disk is indicated the minimum thickness. If it is below, the replacement of the disc is necessary

When to replace brakes?

Brakes are elements of your vehicle that should be checked on regular basis by professional to ensure the safety of your car. Indeed, the brakes wear over the time and it decreases the braking efficiency. Moreover, the braking system wear depends on the type of driving, but also on several other factors. Caliper shaft maintenance and brake oil change prevent damages to other components that can incur high repair expenses.

We advise you to check the braking system of your vehicle at least twice a year to improve its lifetime.