Braking System Being Stripped Down

When ELV’s end up in a treatment facility or breakers yard the brake system is will be stripped down either for the benefit of selling valuable parts or to be recycled. The first thing that is normally dealt with are the brake pipes. These cannot be re-used so they tend just to be cut off from the relevant calipers. But before this can be done, all brake fluids need to be drained from the system. The normal process is to undo the bleed nipples on the wheel calipers and either pump the brake pedal or use a syphon to capture the fluid into a suitable container. It is then transferred to a sealed container ready to be disposed of correctly at a treatment facility. The brake pipes can then be taken off the car and rolled up to be melted down as often these are made of brass.

Brake Hoses

These are thicker than the brass pipes and made of reinforced rubber with brass ends. Normally these should not be re-sold but in rare situations, (for example of they are nearly brand new), there could be an option for these to be sold on.

Master Brake Cylinder

Normally situated under the bonnet, this master cylinder feeds the braking system with 2 channels. Normally fixed to the bulkhead so the brake pedal can be attached to it. If the seals are in good condition and it is not seized, this would be removed, cleaned and shelved to be sold.

Brake Calipers

These are attached to the axle or suspension arms and when the master cylinder is depressed, these activate and grip the brake discs in order to stop. A critical issue os how long it has been since the calipers have been used as they tend to seize easily. Older models made have drum brakes on the rear wheels and use small slave cylinders to press against the brake shoes to slow down. Once the brake fluid has been drained, these can be sold.

Brake Discs

These are normally held in place by the wheel nuts that hold the wheel on to its hub. The thickness of these are key to whether they are melted down or re-used. However there cannot be any grooves worn in them also. Otherwise they could unsafe to re-fit. The physical weight of these often makes these un-economical to sell second hand of postage is concerned.

Brake Pads and Shoes

These are items that should never be re-used and are cheap enough to buy new. They are composed of metal shavings of different metals, where a type of glue or resin hold these together to form the part of the pad that delivers friction when in contact with the brake discs. These will go into an area ready to be melted down. Brake shoes are situated within a drum and when pushed outwards they expand into the rotating drum slowing the wheel down.