Do you know what brake fluid is and how it works? We asked our Santa Monica, CA Genesis Santa Monica sales team this very question at our last meeting. Between the lot of us, we figured it out (with a little help from our factory-trained service techs).
How Brake Fluid Works
Brake fluid is incompressible, behaving like a solid force when put under pressure. The more pressure applied, the greater the force. Stepping on the brake pedal activates a vehicle vacuum booster and master cylinder. They boost brake fluid force and push pressurized brake fluid into brake lines. The fluid travels through the lines, eventually causing brake pads to contact wheel rotors, generating friction that slows and stops wheels.
The Anatomy of Brake Fluid
Brake fluid works so well under pressure because of its makeup. It's usually glycol-based or silicone-based. Less common brake fluids are based on mineral oil. Brake fluid's chemical content gives it resistance to corrosion, a boiling point that's very high, and a degree of viscosity that retains consistency even in very low and high temperatures.
