Course Outline for Automotive Technology 205
Automotive Braking Systems

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 03/03/2021
Catalog Description:

ATEC 205 - Automotive Braking Systems

117.00 Hours

May be repeated 99 time(s)
Automotive Braking Systems including: Diagnosis, inspection, repair, and adjustment of modern automotive brakes and anti-lock braking systems, traction control, and dynamic stability control systems, theory of operation, the study of basic laws of hydraulics, brake service equipment. This course is free and students may repeat this course until mastery of the skills is met. This course is a noncredit course that is equivalent to the ATEC credit course of the same title. Both options cover the same content and students will be enrolled in the same class at the same time. If a student chooses to move from noncredit to credit courses, please meet with ATEC faculty to discuss assessing equivalency and credit by exam. This course is part of a Certificate of Completion. Available Certificates can be found in the Chabot College Catalog.
Prerequisite: ATEC 250 or ATEC 50 (same as APAU 9724) or equivalent (may be taken concurrently)
0948.00 - Automotive Technology*
Pass/No Pass/Satisfactory Progress
Type Hours
Lecture 27.00
Laboratory 90.00
Total 117.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. identify and interpret brake system concern, and determine necessary action;
  2. diagnose pressure concerns in the brake system using hydraulic principles (Pascal’s Law);
  3. measure brake pedal height, and determine necessary action;
  4. check master cylinder for internal and external leaks and proper operation, remove, bench bleed, and reinstall master cylinder;
  5. diagnose poor stopping, pulling or dragging concerns caused by malfunctions in the hydraulic system, and determine necessary action;
  6. inspect brake lines, flexible hoses, and fittings for leaks, dents, kinks, rust, cracks, bulging or wear; tighten loose fittings and supports, and determine necessary action;
  7. select, handle, store, and fill brake fluids to proper level;
  8. flush and bleed brake hydraulic system;
  9. diagnose poor stopping, noise, pulling, grabbing, dragging or pedal pulsation concerns, and determine necessary action;
  10. remove, clean, inspect, measure and refinish brake drums, and rotors;
  11. remove, clean, and inspect brake shoes, springs, pins, clips, levers, adjusters/self-adjusters, other related brake hardware, and backing support plates; lubricate and reassemble;
  12. pre-adjust brake shoes and parking brake before installing brake drums or drum/hub assemblies and wheel bearings;
  13. check parking brake operation including cables and components for wear, rusting, binding, and corrosion; clean, lubricate, or replace as needed;
  14. remove caliper assembly from mountings; clean and inspect for leaks and damage to caliper housing, related hardware and determine necessary action;
  15. clean and inspect caliper mounting and slides for wear and damage, and determine necessary action;
  16. remove, clean, and inspect pads, reassemble, lubricate, and reinstall caliper, pads, and inspect for leaks on front and rear disc brake systems;
  17. diagnose wheel bearing noises, diagnose wheel shimmy, and vibration concerns, and determine necessary action;
  18. remove, clean, inspect, repack, and install wheel bearings and races, replace seals; install hub and adjust wheel bearings;
  19. inspect and replace wheel studs, install wheel, torque lug nuts, and make final checks and adjustments;
  20. check operation of brake stop light system, and determine necessary action;
  21. identify and inspect antilock brake system (ABS) components, and determine necessary action;
  22. diagnose antilock brake system (ABS) electronic control(s) and components using self-diagnosis and/or recommended test equipment, and determine necessary action;
  23. bleed the antilock brake system’s (ABS) front and rear hydraulic circuits;
  24. test, diagnose and service ABS speed sensors, toothed ring (tone wheel), and circuits using a graphing multimeter (GMM)/digital storage oscilloscope (DSO);
  25. identify and interpret faults in traction control systems;
  26. identify and interpret faults in dynamic stability control systems.
Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture):

  1. Automotive safety and shop practices 
  2. Proper care and manipulation of basic hand and specialty tools
  3. Braking system components and performance standards
  4. Braking system principles
  5. Brake linings and pads
  6. Brake fluid and lines
  7. Hydraulic principles and master cylinders
  8. Hydraulic valves and switches
  9. Brake bleeding methods and procedures
  10. Wheel bearings and service
  11. Drum brakes
  12. Drum brake diagnosis and service
  13. Front and Rear disc brakes
  14. Front and Rear disc brake diagnosis and service
  15. Parking brake operation, diagnosis, and service
  16. Machining brake drums and rotors
  17. Power brake unit operation, diagnosis, and service
  18. Brake system electrical fundamentals
  19. ABS, traction control, and dynamic stability control components and operation
  20. Antilock brake, and traction control systems
  21. ABS, traction control, and dynamic stability control diagnosis and service
  22. Hazardous waste handling
  23. Hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel safety
  24. Hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel applicable systems awareness
  25. Soft Skills
 

Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. Demonstrate proper shop safety and working practices, including tools and equipment, and hazardous waste handling
  2. Explain and identify major brake components and area requiring inspection
  3. Perform brake disc maintenance/machining to manufacturer’s standards
  4. Perform brake drum maintenance/machining to manufactures standards
  5. Identify all components of an ABS system
  6.  Identify all components of an ABS, traction control, and dynamic stability control system
  7. Diagnose ABS, traction control, and dynamic stability control faults and make appropriate repairs
  8. Perform brake fluid service
  9. Perform wheel bearing service on serviceable bearings
  10. Perform wheel bearing service on non-serviceable bearings
  11. Perform parking brake service and adjustment
  12. Diagnose vacuum booster faults and make appropriate repairs
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Demonstration
  3. Guest speakers
  4. Laboratory
  5. Field Trips
  6. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Read chapter titled “Drum Brake Operation, Diagnosis, and Service.”
  2. Complete review quiz at the end of chapter.
  3. Complete laboratory assignments using service information, lecture materials, and text.
  1. Class Participation
  2. Laboratory exercises
  3. Homework
  4. Quizzes
  5. Midterm Examination
  6. Final Examination
  7. Practical Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. bleed and/or flush brake system;
  2. remove, clean, inspect, and measure brake drum diameter; determine necessary action;
  3. remove and clean caliper assembly; inspect for leaks and damage/wear to caliper housing; determine necessary action.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Halderman, James (2017). Automotive Brake Systems (7). Pearson.
  • Safety glasses
  • Shop/safety clothing
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Automotive Braking Systems including: Diagnosis, inspection, repair, and adjustment of modern automotive brakes and anti-lock braking systems, traction control, and dynamic stability control systems, theory of operation, the study of basic laws of hydraulics, brake service equipment. This course is a noncredit course that is equivalent to the ATEC credit course of the same title. Both options cover the same content and students will be enrolled in the same class at the same time.
Prerequisite: ATEC 250 or ATEC 50 (same as APAU 9724) or equivalent (may be taken concurrently)