Understanding your car's most crucial safety feature; what you need to know about braking systems

Brakes are a critical safety feature in your car and are commonly overlooked. Besides having good tyres, ensuring your car's brakes are well maintained and performing optimally is paramount to your safety on the roads. 

Essentially, there are two main types of braking systems found in vehicles: drum brakes and disc brakes.

What you need to know about braking systems

The drum brake system encases the brake components within a drum that rotates with the wheel.

When the brake pedal is pressed, brake shoes press outwards against the drum to slow the car. Drum brakes are known for their durability and lower cost, making them a cost-effective option for many vehicles.

Pros of drum Brakes:

• Drum brakes are generally cheaper to manufacture and maintain.
• Durability: They tend to wear down slower than disc brakes in normal driving conditions.

Cons of drum brakes

• Reduced performance under hard braking due to thermal expansion of the drum
• Glazing of brake shoes due to overheating

With disc brakes, the brake disc (or rotor) is attached to the wheel; the brake calliper squeezes brake pads against this disc to create friction and slow the vehicle down.

Disc brakes are known for better stopping power, especially under high-stress or wet conditions, making them a preferred choice for the front brakes of most vehicles, where most of the braking force is needed.

Pros of disc brakes

• Disc brakes offer more reliable and efficient braking, especially in wet conditions or during heavy braking.
• They are better at dispersing heat, reducing the risk of brake fade during prolonged use.

Cons of disc brakes

• Higher maintenance costs

Despite the advantages of disc brakes, many modern cars, particularly budget sedans, hatchbacks, small SUVs, and even pick-up trucks, still use a combination of disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

Maintenance of your brake system

It's crucial to understand your vehicle's braking system and ensure it's functioning correctly for your safety. Regular inspections every 10,000 km are recommended, which include a visual inspection of the brake pads and oil level, as well as an On-Board Computer (OBD) diagnosis if specified.

Elsewhere, it’s also recommended that the brake oil is flushed and replaced every 60,000 km or 3 years. This is commonly overlooked by many owners.

The lifespan of brake pads and shoes varies by the type of vehicle and driving habits; hybrid vehicles' brake pads can last between 80k km – 100k km, whereas performance cars will need replacements much sooner. Typically, family sedans or SUVs require new brake pads around the 45,000 km mark.

How about when buying a used car?

It’s paramount that you check your brakes if you’re buying a used car. Especially for vehicles that do not have a complete service history.

However, you don’t have to worry about your brakes if you are purchasing a CARSOME CERTIFIED used vehicle.

Also read: CARSOME doesn't just sell you a car; it delivers peace of mind and unbeatable value    

Every CARSOME CERTIFIED used car undergoes a stringent 175-point inspection which ensures that the disc brakes and other key components such as the engine, transmission, electrical and electronic systems as well as the suspension underpinnings for each vehicle are working in prime condition.

Besides this, all vehicles are checked to ensure it is free from major accidents, fire and flood damage. 

Once taken in by CARSOME, vehicles are sent for a comprehensive refurbishment at the CARSOME Certified Lab. Here, vehicles will receive general maintenance and repairs using only certified OEM parts, as well as selected body and paint refurbishments before going through a thorough detailing service and being listed for sale.

This comprehensive evaluation and refurbishment process also forms the foundation of the CARSOME promise of quality to provide you with a good-as-new vehicle at competitive prices. All vehicles also include a full inspection report and high-resolution images (including those of any damages) so you know the condition of the vehicle.

All CARSOME CERTIFIED cars come with a 5-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty (depending on the vehicle), so you know you’re covered if something should go wrong with your car.

All CARSOME CERTIFIED cars come with a 5-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year warranty (depending on the vehicle), so you know you’re covered if something should go wrong with your car.

There’s no better time to buy a CARSOME used vehicle

Upon purchasing a CARSOME used car, you can now win prizes of up to RM 60,000 by leaving a review for CARSOME on Google or Facebook from 1st March to 30th April 2024. Contest prizes include:

• 2x iPhone 15 Pro
• 6x LG 55” 4K Smart TVs
• 4x Dyson V12 Vacuums
• 1200x Pin TnG Top Ups.

In addition, enjoy up to a 10 percent discount on after-sales purchases, including extended warranties, CARSOME Service Center vouchers, and the Trapo Gear Up package.

Visit CARSOME now, and check out some of the hottest used vehicles and unbeatable prices.