Image: shutterstock
About This Quiz
Discs, drums, lines, master cylinders - to many people these are mysterious words and even more mysterious in their operation. It might as well be magic that brings their car to a halt, because they don't have the slightest idea how everything works.ÂÂ
Most people just press on their brake pedal without a second thought, unless there's a problem. If you've ever pressed on the brake pedal and felt zero resistance, you know how that can make you panic in a hurry. Those kinds of situations are avoidable, if you care for your brake system and maintain it properly. If you're not like the average car owner, you know when you should do what with the brakes. You also might have a thorough understanding of the different components present in modern brake systems, plus how they operate.
You might even be one of those handy sorts who does your own brakes when it's time for them to be serviced. If you are, you'll ace this!
There's also emergency brakes, brake boosters, ABS, and so many other technologies involved in braking systems for cars. It's an exciting field, for the right person.
Just how much do you really know about braking systems for cars? Test your knowledge now to find out.
What kind of brakes do you use a brake spoon on?
vented
slotted
drum
This tool is designed to fit in the opening at the back of the backing plates. Once it's in position, you can then use the spoon to change how much space there is between the brake shoes and the drum.
cross-drilled
What is vapor lock?
when the brake pedal won't move at all
when brake fluid turns to vapor, resulting in a loss of braking power
When you're driving hard on a track, going down a steep mountain road or doing anything else where the temptation to ride the brakes a lot is there, you run the risk of vapor lock. A good way to avoid it is to downshift and use engine braking to slow the car.
when vapors from the rotors freeze the calipers
when the wheels lock up as you brake hard
On most vehicles, what is brake dust mostly made of?
aluminum
oil
platinum
iron
As the cast iron brake rotor and pad rub against each other, most of the castoff is iron. Also in that unsightly black dust is carbon from the pads, plus fibers from the semi-metallic elements in the pads.
Advertisement
What does the brake master cylinder do?
converts mechanical pressure to hydraulic pressure
When you press on the brake pedal, that's a mechanical force exerted by your foot. The master cylinder turns that into hydraulic pressure, which is ultimately what causes the brake calipers to press the pads against the rotors, slowing or stopping the vehicle.
pumps air
reads electrical pulses and turns them into audible signals
pulls on the brake lines to actuate the calipers
What does ABS stand for?
also been said
all brakes shed
and brakes stain
anti-lock brake system
Before ABS, when a driver slammed on the brakes the wheels would lock up, reducing or eliminating the ability to steer away from danger. This innovation essentially pumps the brakes for you, but better than humans can do it.
What's one of the main reasons automakers have cited for using electronic parking brakes in newer cars?
They save space.
Automakers are always looking for ways to maximize space in vehicle interiors. Based on feedback from consumers, they feel that larger cupholders, somewhere to place your phone (other than the cupholder), and a big center console storage area are more important than a lever to engage the parking brake.
They never break.
They're so easy to use.
They look so cool.
Advertisement
What are dimpled rotors typically used for, versus cross-drilled rotors?
electric cars
heavier vehicles
Most people know about cross-drilled rotors, which are featured on lightweight sports cars, etc. Dimpled rotors also boost performance by allowing heat to escape quickly through the dimples, avoiding problems like vapor lock.
diesel-powered cars
hybrid cars
Which of the following is not a reason to buy new rotors instead of having them resurfaced?
better performance
less brake dust is generated
Back in the day, resurfacing rotors made sense since they were expensive to replace, plus rotors were attached to the hub. Today, rotors are easy to take off, cost relatively little, and don't perform optimally once they've been resurfaced.
cost
some automakers caution against resurfacing
What are the two main advantages of two-piece rotors?
no chance of vapor lock or brake fade
They weigh less and dissipate heat faster.
You also can just replace the disc ring instead of the hat as well. The only real drawback anyone can point out about two-piece rotors is that they cost significantly more, which is likely why you don't see them on many cars.
They spin faster and soak up heat better.
They don't need hydraulic pressure and are made of carbon fiber.
Advertisement
If your drum brakes have bell mouth, what must you do?
have them resurfaced
buy a new car
replace the drums
Bell mouth is when the drum has expanded out at the open end. That's not good, since it will reduce brake performance. This condition comes about when the brake drums thin out from normal wear, allowing the metal to warp.
switch to disc brakes
Which of the following isn't a potential cause of pulsation when you press on the brake pedal?
warped rotor
a bent pedal
Your brakes normally should feel smooth when you engage them, although pulsations could be the ABS at work in a panic stop or when you're on slippery ground. Aside from the other causes listed, warped hubs, worn wheel bearings and stiff CV joints can also be the source.
the ABS system
overheating
Where do hydro-boost brake boosters get their power from?
power steering pump
Instead of using a vacuum to create pressure for the brake booster, hydro-boost setups get their power from the hydraulic pressure of the power steering pump. This innovation was created to boost fuel efficiency.
exhaust gases
Earth's yellow sun
the tides of the ocean
Advertisement
What's one sign that your car's brake lines are worn out?
ABS light on
squealing
bubbling
Inspecting your brake lines or having a technician do it is an excellent idea. Cracking, wet spots, chafing, loose mounts, a twisted hose, a brittle hose or a spongy hose are all signs it's time to swap them out for new ones.
a crow flies to the east
What are brake pots?
a collection container for brake fluid
the master cylinder
drum brakes
pistons on calipers
Because the pistons or pots in the calipers are what force the pads against the rotors, they're vital to stopping performance. You'll notice big vehicles and performance cars have several pots per caliper for more braking pressure.
If brake rotors are slotted, which direction do the slots go?
in concentric circles around the hub
from the center outward
As the brake pad and rotor rub against each other, that friction generates a ton of heat. You should know too much heat hurts performance, but slots cut into the rotors provide a quick way for that hot air to escape and flow away.
around each of the mounting bolts
in wavy lines toward each other
Advertisement
What is the alternative to bonded brake linings?
riveted
There are quite a few debates among car enthusiasts about which is better: bonded or riveted brake linings or pads. Some believe the rivets are more durable than adhesive used for bonded lining.
cemented
nailed
welded
Which of the following is an advantage of carbon ceramic brake rotors?
They don't require calipers.
You don't need to buy brake pads.
increased durability
Quite a few high-performance vehicles these days use carbon ceramic rotors, which don't deform as easily at high temperatures, won't corrode and weigh less.
They will last longer than the Earth.
How do you test a car's brake fluid to ensure it's not time to change it?
look at it
dip a test strip in the fluid reservoir
Brake fluid test kits, which usually come with quite a few tester strips, are available through most automotive parts stores and other retailers. It's a wise thing to do, because you want the brake fluid to not be corroding the brake lines from the inside out.
check the fluid level
taste it
Advertisement
What do ABS accumulators always contain?
air
coolant
magic
brake fluid
One of the vital components of an ABS system is the accumulator. There are integral accumulators that contain an electric pump, or non-integral setups with a spring-loaded design, both that provide pressure for the emergency brake pumping.
About how hot can brake rotors get as you drive normally on the street?
120 Fahrenheit
about 200 Fahrenheit
about 250 Fahrenheit
around 400 Fahrenheit
It might sound crazy, but your brake rotors get hot enough to cook a pizza, depending how much and how long you apply them. If you're driving aggressively, especially on a race track for lap after lap, your brakes can reach about 1,000 Fahrenheit.
What's the common cause of failure for cross drilled rotors?
They tend to crack.
While it depends on the material the rotors are made of, the manufacturing process and how you drive, cross drilled rotors have the notorious reputation of cracking. Once that happens, it's time to replace them.
They warp constantly.
The holes clog with brake dust.
They never fail.
Advertisement
As the brake pads wear down, what happens to the brake fluid level?
nothing
It drops slightly.
You should check the brake fluid level periodically on your car, ensuring it stays between the full and add markings. When you replace the pads, you might need to bleed the brakes slightly, because you can't let the fluid level sit above the full mark.
It drops a lot.
It rises slightly.
Where is the venting in a ventilated rotor?
on the rotor face
at the edges of the rotor
in between the two sides
With ventilated rotors, pathways between the two rotor faces, or the flat sides you see through the wheels, provide an expedited pathway for heat to escape from the rotor. The exact design of these pathways varies from brand to brand.
nowhere
What causes the notorious brake pull?
worn motor mounts
a loose roof rack
low brake fluid
uneven braking forces on the two sides of the car
You want the brakes on both sides of your car to match in force and performance. This is why your front brakes and rear brakes need to match each other exactly. If they don't for any reason, the car will pull to the side that exerts more braking force, which is called brake pull.
Advertisement
What kind of car brakes are self-energizing?
ABS
disc brakes
drum brakes
Drum brakes actually use the rotation of the wheel to apply one or both shoes against the inside of the drum, which creates friction and slows or stops the vehicle. The self-energizing function increases braking pressure for improved performance.
hybrid car brakes
What kind of caliper mount design do most production vehicles have?
fixed
floating
Floating calipers are attached to a pin that is fixed to the spindle. This design works better with the different OE manufacturing tolerances, which is why the vast majority of production vehicles feature this design.
hybrid mount
mnemonic
Which of the following is a sign your brake lines might be leaking fluid?
The brake lights are always on.
The fluid level is always dropping below the minimum line.
Your brakes are a closed system, so if the brake fluid is constantly needing to be replenished, there's a leak. Brake lines are tough, but eventually they can give way to corrosion or be damaged in other ways, so you would need to replace them.
Your brakes squeal.
The brakes overheat.
Advertisement
How does a dual master cylinder make your brakes safer?
It quadruples braking forces.
It pumps the brakes for you.
It will never freeze up.
Each chamber is connected to one set of wheels.
If something were to happen to a brake line and it failed, whether through corrosion, damage in an accident or someone purposely cutting them, it would only mean one set of wheels would lose braking power, so you could still stop.
A brake combination valve will fill the role of all but which of the following devices?
proportioning valve
metering valve
brake caliper
Most cars that have front disc brakes and rear drum brakes also use a combination valve. Without this component working properly, your brakes won't function like they should.
pressure differential switch
The higher the DOT number for brake fluid, the higher something else is. What is it?
water ratio
percent of silicone
boiling point
Most cars in the United States use either DOT 3 or Dot 4 brake fluid, which boil at 401 and 446 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. These standards are set by the US Department of Transportation, or DOT.
percent of glycol
Advertisement
Why would you use brake lubricants?
to increase friction
to soften the pads
to stop squealing or screeching
When you apply brake lubricant you absolutely need to stay away from any of the friction surfaces, like the rotors and pads. Lubricant will decrease friction, so apply it with extreme care.
to keep the rotors from corroding
What force is used to multiply the movement of the brake pedal?
hydraulic
Of course, the pressure you exert with the brake pedal isn't exactly what stops the car. The master cylinder takes that pressure and multiplies it, sending the result to the calipers through the lines using hydraulic force.
vacuum
magnetic
electrical
Why do some cars feature drum brakes in the rear?
better performance
they look better
cost
The main reason for using drum brakes on the back wheels of cars is that they cost less. Drum brakes need less maintenance, which can also translate into savings, but they don't produce nearly as stellar of stopping performance, which is the trade-off.
lack of brake dust
Advertisement
What was the original application for disc brakes?
semi trucks
race cars
Because race cars push the limits, they need the best brakes possible. Disc brakes were invented as a big improvement over drum brakes. Over time, these were used on performance cars, and eventually are found on most cars today.
tanks
stagecoaches
How do most emergency or parking brakes apply force to the rear wheels?
hydraulic force
magnetic attraction
magic
using a steel cable
When you pull on a hand brake, you're tightening a steel cable that runs to the rear wheels. That actuates pads that either push against the drums or pinch the discs, keeping the car from rolling away.
You Got:
/35
shutterstock