All About Ford Brake Systems

We all probably take our brakes for granted. We don’t think about brakes until we need them or when they fail us.

When you get right down to it, the physics of braking is taking the kinetic energy of a moving vehicle and transforming it into heat energy. Okay, so what the heck does this have to do with stopping a Mustang? Plenty. When we step on our Mustang’s brake pedal, we are forcing brake fluid under pressure from the master cylinder through steel lines and hoses to hydraulic servos (wheel cylinders or calipers) that move brake pads or shoes into the rotating mass that is a brake drum or rotor. The friction material that contacts the rotating iron or steel mass slows the rotor or drum to a stop, which heats up the pad, shoe, rotor, or drum. We are transforming kinetic energy (motion) into heat energy when we apply resistance to that kinetic energy.

When we get past the theory of braking relativity, our objective is basically one thing: to stop safely and soundly. So what are brakes? What are they made of? What do they do? And how do they do it? Mustangs are equipped with two basic types of brakes: drum and disc. Some have power assist to ease braking effort.

Braking begins with a Mustang’s brake hydraulic system. Hydraulics puts fluid to work for us. Hydraulic pressure could literally move the planet. Because we cannot compress fluid, we “move” it through lines and hoses to the device we need to do the work. When you step on the brake pedal, the master cylinder moves fluid through the lines and hoses to the wheel cylinders or disc brake calipers, which moves the shoes or pads against the rotating drum or rotor. If there is air in the fluid, we compress (squeeze) the air and fail to move the brake fluid effectively. This is why brakes that need bleeding (getting the air out) feel spongy. When there is solid brake fluid between the master cylinder and wheel cylinder/caliper, we have a hard pedal and effective braking.

We bleed the air and contaminated fluid out of a braking system by having someone step on the brake pedal, then opening bleeders at each of the brake cylinders/calipers to remove air. Once all air and contaminated fluid are removed from the system, braking efficiency improves dramatically. Braking systems should be flushed and bled at every brake job. This keeps the fluid fresh and effective. Contaminated brake fluid hurts braking effectiveness and your safety.