Brake Equipment History
Brake lathes, bleeders, drum and disc service tools and ABS-era equipment.
Why was brake shoe relining once common?
Short answer: Before ready-made exchange shoes were widely available, shops removed worn friction material and riveted or bonded new lining onto the original shoe.
Before ready-made exchange shoes were widely available, shops removed worn friction material and riveted or bonded new lining onto the original shoe. Relining machines and rivet tools were common shop equipment, and the practice declined as remanufactured shoes became widespread.
How did concerns about asbestos change brake linings?
Short answer: Many older brake linings and clutch facings contained asbestos.
Many older brake linings and clutch facings contained asbestos. Growing health concerns in the late twentieth century led manufacturers to shift to non-asbestos organic, semi-metallic and ceramic friction materials, and shops adopted wet cleaning and enclosed methods.
Why were brake dust vacuums introduced?
Short answer: Blowing out brake drums with compressed air spread dust that could contain asbestos.
Blowing out brake drums with compressed air spread dust that could contain asbestos. HEPA-filtered brake vacuums and enclosure systems were introduced to capture that dust and reduce technician exposure. Proper training and protective gear reduce the risk of injury.
How did brake service change when disc brakes became common?
Short answer: Disc brakes became common on the front of many cars in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Disc brakes became common on the front of many cars in the late 1960s and 1970s. Shops needed caliper tools, rotor micrometers and rotor machining equipment in addition to drum brake tools.
Why did brake drums once need regular machining?
Short answer: Drum brakes wear the inner surface of the drum, and resurfacing restored a smooth friction surface.
Drum brakes wear the inner surface of the drum, and resurfacing restored a smooth friction surface. Brake lathes for drums were common in shops when drum brakes dominated.
How did ABS change brake bleeding?
Short answer: Anti-lock brake systems added hydraulic units with valves that can trap air.
Anti-lock brake systems added hydraulic units with valves that can trap air. Some systems require scan tools to cycle the valves during bleeding.
Why did early cars have brakes on only two wheels?
Short answer: Many early cars had brakes only on the rear wheels, partly due to concerns about steering and stability.
Many early cars had brakes only on the rear wheels, partly due to concerns about steering and stability. Four-wheel brakes became common in the 1920s as designs and hydraulic systems improved.
What were mechanical brakes?
Short answer: Mechanical brakes used rods or cables to apply the brakes.
Mechanical brakes used rods or cables to apply the brakes. They were replaced by hydraulic brakes because hydraulic systems apply more even force.
Why did early brake shops need brake adjustment tools?
Short answer: Older drum brakes required periodic manual adjustment as linings wore.
Older drum brakes required periodic manual adjustment as linings wore. Brake adjusting spoons and gauges were standard tools until self-adjusting drum brakes became common.
When did self-adjusting drum brakes become common?
Short answer: Self-adjusting drum brakes became common on American cars in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Self-adjusting drum brakes became common on American cars in the late 1950s and 1960s. They reduced the need for periodic manual adjustment and changed routine brake service.
Why did dual master cylinders become required?
Short answer: Single-circuit brake systems could lose all braking if one line failed.
Single-circuit brake systems could lose all braking if one line failed. Dual-circuit master cylinders became standard on U.S. cars in the late 1960s, improving safety and changing brake service procedures.
How did power brake boosters change brake service?
Short answer: Vacuum power brake boosters reduced pedal effort and became common in the mid-twentieth century.
Vacuum power brake boosters reduced pedal effort and became common in the mid-twentieth century. Technicians needed to test vacuum supply and booster function as part of brake diagnosis.
Why did hydraulic brake boosters appear on some vehicles?
Short answer: Diesel engines and some vehicles lacked strong manifold vacuum for vacuum boosters.
Diesel engines and some vehicles lacked strong manifold vacuum for vacuum boosters. Hydraulic boosters powered by the power steering pump appeared as an alternative, adding new diagnostic steps.
How did semi-metallic brake pads change brake service?
Short answer: Semi-metallic pads gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, especially as asbestos was phased out and front-wheel-drive cars needed more heat-resistant pads.
Semi-metallic pads gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, especially as asbestos was phased out and front-wheel-drive cars needed more heat-resistant pads. They often required smoother rotor finishes and different break-in procedures.
Why did ceramic brake pads become popular?
Short answer: Ceramic brake pads gained popularity from the 1980s and 1990s because they produce less dust and noise.
Ceramic brake pads gained popularity from the 1980s and 1990s because they produce less dust and noise. They became common replacement options for passenger cars.
General guidance only. Follow the vehicle and tool manufacturer's procedures, and confirm vehicle coverage on the tool maker's list before buying.