VIDEO: How Car Brakes Work

Fleet drivers are your first line of defense for unscheduled maintenance needs. As a fleet manager, you need their help to identify early signs of trouble so a slowly emerging problem doesn’t develop into a major safety hazard. This is particularly true with brakes.

A number of factors can lead to premature wear-and-tear of a vehicle’s brake system – exposure to road salt, a history of aggressive driving and sudden braking, a driver whose foot habitually rides the brake, a glitch introduced during manufacturing or repair work, etc.

According to Firestone, here are some brake conditions that signal the vehicle needs to be serviced as soon as possible:

• A screeching, grinding, squealing or rubbing noise

• Vibration and pulsation in the pedal or steering wheel

• The need to press down further to complete braking functions

• A pungent burning smell near the tires

• Illumination of the brake warning light. 

You may want to pass this tip along to fleet drivers as a friendly reminder. Working as a team, fleet managers and drivers can help keep vehicles as safe as possible while also reducing vehicle downtimes and repair costs.

Additionally, some drivers – those who aren’t necessarily avid car or truck DIYers – may want to watch a video reviewing how a vehicle’s disc brakes work. To view the video, which ACDelco produced, just click on the photo or link above.