Mopar Brakes

How Do Brakes Work?

It's actually pretty simple. First, a brake piston moves along a brake cylinder bore. What that does is pressurize brake fluid. The fluid then goes through a series of hoses and lines, charging your brake calipers. They press a set of brake pads to a corresponding set of brake rotors. Everything rubs together. As it does, it generates friction, namely, resistance that your vehicle uses to slow down and stop. If you're driving an older vehicle, it may even use brake shoes and drums to do the job.

Unfortunately, brake parts can go bad from age or wear. Luckily, there are some signs that you can watch for that indicate it's time to change them.

When Do Brakes Need to Be Replaced?

The answer to that depends on the part. To figure it out, do a full inspection and look for brake problems. Besides warning lights on the dash, symptoms include:

• Strange brake noises
• Shuddering when braking
• A brake pedal that's too soft or low
• Loss of brake grip
• Pulling sideways when braking
• Taking longer to slow down and stop
• Grinding noises

The last one indicates rotor damage. It usually means your rotors have come in direct contact with your calipers, probably because your pads have worn out. If you need a new set of OEM brakes, you're in luck. You can order parts for them right here online, at our auto parts store. We carry only genuine Mopar brake parts, too, so they'll fit what you drive, guaranteed. Buy now!