1. vented
   slotted
2. drum
   cross-drilled

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.

1. when the brake pedal won't move at all
   when brake fluid turns to vapor, resulting in a loss of braking power
2. when vapors from the rotors freeze the calipers
   when the wheels lock up as you brake hard

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.

1. aluminum
   oil
2. 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.

1. converts mechanical pressure to hydraulic pressure
   pumps air
2. reads electrical pulses and turns them into audible signals
   pulls on the brake lines to actuate the calipers

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.

1. also been said
   all brakes shed
2. 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.

1. They save space.
   They never break.
2. They're so easy to use.
   They look so cool.

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.

1. electric cars
   heavier vehicles
2. diesel-powered cars
   hybrid cars

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.

1. better performance
   less brake dust is generated
2. cost
   some automakers caution against resurfacing

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.

1. no chance of vapor lock or brake fade
   They weigh less and dissipate heat faster.
2. They spin faster and soak up heat better.
   They don't need hydraulic pressure and are made of carbon fiber.

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.

1. have them resurfaced
   buy a new car
2. replace the drums
   switch to disc brakes

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.

1. warped rotor
   a bent pedal
2. the ABS system
   overheating

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.

1. power steering pump
   exhaust gases
2. Earth's yellow sun
   the tides of the ocean

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.

1. ABS light on
   squealing
2. bubbling
   a crow flies to the east

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.

1. a collection container for brake fluid
   the master cylinder
2. 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.

1. in concentric circles around the hub
   from the center outward
2. around each of the mounting bolts
   in wavy lines toward each other

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.

1. riveted
   cemented
2. nailed
   welded

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.

1. They don't require calipers.
   You don't need to buy brake pads.
2. increased durability
   They will last longer than the Earth.

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.

1. look at it
   dip a test strip in the fluid reservoir
2. check the fluid level
   taste it

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.

1. air
   coolant
2. 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.

1. 120 Fahrenheit
   about 200 Fahrenheit
2. 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.

1. They tend to crack.
   They warp constantly.
2. The holes clog with brake dust.
   They never fail.

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.

1. nothing
   It drops slightly.
2. It drops a lot.
   It rises 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.

1. on the rotor face
   at the edges of the rotor
2. in between the two sides
   nowhere

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.

1. worn motor mounts
   a loose roof rack
2. 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.

1. ABS
   disc brakes
2. drum brakes
   hybrid car 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.

1. fixed
   floating
2. hybrid mount
   mnemonic

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.

1. The brake lights are always on.
   The fluid level is always dropping below the minimum line.
2. Your brakes squeal.
   The brakes overheat.

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.

1. It quadruples braking forces.
   It pumps the brakes for you.
2. 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.

1. proportioning valve
   metering valve
2. brake caliper
   pressure differential switch

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.

1. water ratio
   percent of silicone
2. boiling point
   percent of glycol

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.

1. to increase friction
   to soften the pads
2. to stop squealing or screeching
   to keep the rotors from corroding

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.

1. hydraulic
   vacuum
2. magnetic
   electrical

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.

1. better performance
   they look better
2. cost
   lack of brake dust

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.

1. semi trucks
   race cars
2. tanks
   stagecoaches

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.

1. hydraulic force
   magnetic attraction
2. 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.