Maintenance and care of high-performance braking systems: tips from the experts

Investing in a new vehicle often brings great joy to the car owner. In the first few weeks, new car owners can be seen roaming around the parked car with eagle eyes looking for any visible damage before driving off. When this initial excitement wears off after a few weeks, the number of checks will also decrease.

However, to ensure that you can enjoy your vehicle for a long time to come, it makes sense to continue to carry out certain checks or to start doing so now.

For example, components of the high-performance braking system. It ensures precise deceleration, maximum vehicle safety and a direct driving experience - provided it is in perfect condition. If you don't regularly take care of maintenance and care, you risk not only a loss of performance, but also serious damage.

In this article, the MOV'IT experts provide practical tips on how to optimally check, maintain and service brake systems and what to look out for.

Are you interested in premium braking systems from MOV'IT? Get in touch with us!

The structure of braking systems

Before we delve into the world of brake system care and maintenance, here is an overview at the beginning to create a uniform understanding of the components of the brake system. What we colloquially refer to as "the brake" is actually a complex interplay of several components. A braking system starts with the brake pedal - the interface between the driver and the vehicle - and extends to the brake discs on the wheels. Each individual component helps to ensure that the vehicle decelerates quickly, precisely and reliably.

An overview of the most important components of a modern braking system:

• Brake pedal
  

The starting point of the braking process: It transfers the driver's physical force to the system to initiate the braking process.

• Brake booster
  

Increases pedal pressure with the help of negative pressure so that less effort is required.

• Master brake cylinder
  

Converts the mechanical force into hydraulic pressure and transmits it via the brake lines.

• Brake lines, brake hoses & brake fluid
  

Transmit the hydraulic pressure to the brake callipers on the wheels.

• Brake caliper
  

Picks up the brake pads and presses them against the brake disk using hydraulic pressure.

• Brake piston
  

Integrated in the brake calliper, the pistons are moved by the hydraulic pressure and press the brake pads against the brake disk. Depending on the design, there are single or multi-piston systems.

• Brake pads
  

Friction material that generates the deceleration through contact with the brake disk.

• Brake disk
  

Connected to the wheel hub and responsible for the actual deceleration due to the resulting friction.

Regular care and maintenance is necessary for the optimum performance and safety of all components.

Care: regular inspection and cleaning

Visual inspection: Detect minor damage at an early stage

A quick look at the brakes can reveal a lot about their condition. Check regularly whether the brake discs are cracked or discolored. A blue or rainbow-like discoloration indicates overheating - a sign that the material has reached its limits. While fine cracks on the surface do not necessarily have to be a problem, continuous cracks are an alarm signal and can lead to the disc breaking. The following applies: urgent replacement!

Also important: Look out for flaking paint on the brake callipers. This is generally not a problem, but if corrosion forms near the bleeder screws, this can lead to leaks and loss of brake fluid in the long term. Paint flaking can also lead to corrosion and subsequently to material fatigue.

Scoring on the brake discs does not necessarily have to be a malfunction. A jammed grain of sand can leave such grooves due to the forces acting on it. It is important to remove the dirt as soon as something is trapped between the brake disk and brake pad as quickly as possible to prevent further damage or even destruction of the brake disk.

What to look out for:

• Do the brake discs have deep cracks or discoloration?
• Is there any visible paint flaking on the brake callipers?
• Are the bleeder screws tight?
• Is scoring recognizable?

Remove brake dust and dirt - but do it right!

Brake discs become clogged with brake dust and road dirt over time. This is particularly problematic for the ventilation holes in the discs. They are crucial for heat dissipation and must remain clean in order to function properly and prevent heat build-up!

It is better to clean the brakes with water in a self-service car wash. After washing, the brakes should always be run dry so that no moisture remains in the system.

What to look out for:

• Are the ventilation holes in the brake disks free of dirt?
• Never clean brake dust with compressed air - toxic!
• Always run brakes dry after cleaning with water
  

Ensure that the brake pads can move freely

After demanding use of the brakes - for example on the racetrack or long highway journeys - you should check whether the brake pads can still move freely. Jammed pads can cause the brakes to drag and quickly overheat.

A simple test: Move the brake pad slightly by hand from the outside. If it is stiff, the guide should be cleaned.

This check should be carried out regularly every 2-3 weeks or after approx. 800 - 1000 kilometers.

What to look out for:

• Can the brake pads be moved easily by hand?
• Clean the guide from stiff brake pads
  

Maintenance: Replacement and inspection of components

Change brake pads regularly

Brake pads are wearing parts and need to be replaced regularly. It is not only the thickness of the pads that is crucial, but also their flexibility within the brake calliper. If they are too tight, this can lead to uneven wear and overheating and even damage to the brake discs.

When changing, make sure that the contact surfaces are clean and that the holder is not jammed.

What to look out for:

• Brake pads are wearing parts
• When changing, make sure that they are easy to move
  

Replace the brake disks: Don't forget the wheel hub!

When replacing brake discs, a critical error often occurs: the wheel hub is not cleaned. If there is rust or dirt here, the new brake disc will not fit perfectly - it can wobble (colloquially known as "egging") and lead to vibrations in the steering wheel as well as deformation or damage to the brake system. It is therefore essential to ensure that the wheel hub is carefully cleaned before fitting the brake disk.

Also make sure that the brake disc is exactly centered in the brake calliper. The tolerance is around 3.5 mm total play (1.6 to 1.75 mm per side). If it is positioned too far outwards or inwards, the temperature-related material expansion can lead to temporary pressureless grinding of the pads, which can damage the brake.

What to look out for:

• The wheel hub must be free of dirt and corrosion so that the brake disk can run smoothly
• Make sure that the brake disk runs exactly in the middle of the brake caliper
  

Check brake fluid and bleeding

An often neglected point in maintenance is the brake fluid. If it is too old or contains air bubbles, the braking force is reduced and the pedal feel becomes spongy.

Due to its hygroscopic properties, the brake fluid draws water from the environment, even in a closed system. This lowers the boiling point and increases the risk of vapor bubble formation at high temperatures, which can significantly impair braking power. In addition, the brake fluid ages chemically, which further reduces its efficiency. You should therefore change it regularly.

Particularly important: Check that the bleeder screws are tight. A leak can cause the system to draw air - with fatal consequences for braking performance.

What to look out for:

• Brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs water, which can lead to problems
• Regular replacement of the brake fluid is therefore recommended
• Vent plugs must be tight

The MOV'IT expert tips at a glance

High-performance brake systems offer impressive performance, but care and maintenance play an important role. If you inspect your brakes regularly, keep them clean and replace wearing parts in good time, you will not only ensure a long service life, but also maximum safety and ultimate precision in braking performance.

The brake experts at MOV'IT recommend the following points:

✅ Regular visual inspection for cracks, discoloration and paint peeling

✅ Remove dirt from brake disk bores - but never use compressed air!

Check brake pads for freedom of movement to avoid overheating

✅ Clean the wheel hub when changing disks to prevent axial run-out errors

✅ Check the brake fluid and bleeder screws regularly

MOV'IT: Your partner for innovative high-performance braking systems

As a manufacturer of premium brake systems, we focus on 3 specific fields of application:

1. MOV'IT® SECURITY Brakes: especially for security vehicles with special equipment
   
2. MOV'IT® MILITARY Brakes: developed for military vehicles up to 20 tons to function uncompromisingly and efficiently on all types of surfaces.
   
3. MOV'IT® SPORT PERFORMANCE Brakes: ideal for the race track or sporty driving where precision and maximum braking power are required in the high speed range.

MOV'IT brake systems are specially designed for high-performance vehicles and are characterized by a high degree of technical innovation .

In-house innovations include the MOV'IT DDE system, a dual directional ventilation system, and the MOV'IT RAPAD-X system, which enables brake pads to be changed quickly and easily without having to remove the brake callipers.

We attach great importance to the individualization and quality of the components. Our brake systems are specially adapted to the requirements of the respective vehicles. This applies to racing vehicles as well as heavy-duty brakes used in special protection or by the military .