Automotive Brake System Technician

Course Description

AER0418C – Automotive Brake System Technician is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course in the Automotive Service Technology program, aligned with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Curriculum Framework for CIP code 47.0604 (Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician). The course aligns with the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) A5 – Brakes certification area and the ASE Education Foundation Maintenance & Light Repair (MLR), Auto Service Technician (AST), and Master Auto Service Technology (MAST) program standards.

Students develop competencies in diagnosing, servicing, and repairing automotive hydraulic brake systems, drum brakes, disc brakes, power assist systems, anti-lock brake systems (ABS), traction control, electronic stability control, and parking brake mechanisms. Instruction combines classroom theory with extensive hands-on lab work using lathes, brake fluid testers, scan tools, and live-vehicle service.

This course is offered at 41 Florida technical colleges and is part of the Automotive Service Technology 2 program sequence. As a 900-series PSAV course, hours apply toward program completion and ASE certification eligibility but are not automatically transferable to associate-degree programs.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of brake system principles — hydraulic theory (Pascal's Law), friction, heat dissipation, and mechanical advantage.
• Diagnose and repair hydraulic brake systems, including the master cylinder, brake lines, hoses, fittings, valves, and brake fluid service.
• Inspect, service, and repair drum brake systems, including shoes, springs, adjusters, wheel cylinders, and backing plates.
• Inspect, service, and repair disc brake systems, including pads, calipers, rotors, and related hardware.
• Service power brake assist systems — vacuum boosters, hydro-boost, and electronic brake boosters — and verify proper operation.
• Diagnose and repair anti-lock brake systems (ABS) using scan tool data, including wheel-speed sensors, hydraulic control unit, and ABS module.
• Service parking brake systems, including mechanical, integrated, and electronic parking brake (EPB) types.
• Perform brake fluid service following manufacturer specifications, including fluid selection, bleeding procedures (manual, pressure, vacuum, scan-tool initiated), and copper/moisture testing.
• Demonstrate safe work practices, including proper handling of brake fluid, brake dust precautions (asbestos awareness), and torque specifications for safety-critical fasteners.

Optional Outcomes

• Diagnose and service electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control systems, including yaw, lateral acceleration, and steering angle sensors.
• Service regenerative braking systems on hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Perform brake system flush and ABS module bleeding using scan-tool initiated procedures.
• Diagnose brake pull, pulsation, and noise complaints using lateral runout, parallelism, and disc thickness variation measurements.
• Service integrated electronic parking brake systems using scan-tool service mode procedures.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Brake System Theory: Pascal's Law, friction principles, heat transfer, weight transfer during braking, federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS 105, 135).
• Hydraulic System Components: Master cylinder construction and operation, residual valves, proportioning/metering valves, combination valves, brake lines and hoses.
• Brake Fluid Service: DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1 fluid characteristics, moisture testing, copper testing, system flushing, bleeding procedures.
• Drum Brake Service: Drum measurement (out-of-round, taper, diameter), shoe inspection and replacement, spring and self-adjuster service, backing plate service.
• Disc Brake Service: Pad inspection and replacement, caliper service (floating/fixed/multi-piston), rotor measurement (thickness, parallelism, lateral runout), on-car and off-car rotor machining.
• Power Assist Systems: Vacuum booster operation and testing, hydro-boost systems, electric brake boosters, brake pedal feel diagnosis.
• Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS): ABS theory and operation, wheel-speed sensor types and testing, hydraulic control unit (HCU), ABS module diagnosis with scan tools.
• Parking Brake Systems: Drum-in-hat parking brakes, integrated caliper parking brakes, electronic parking brake (EPB) operation and service.
• Inspection and Maintenance: Brake system inspection procedures, wear measurement, customer service ticket documentation, service interval recommendations.
• Safety: Asbestos and brake dust precautions, brake fluid handling, proper torque procedures, jack and jack stand use, wheel-stud/lug-nut torque.

Optional Topics

• Electronic Stability Control: Yaw sensors, lateral acceleration sensors, steering angle sensors, ESC module operation.
• Regenerative Braking: Hybrid/EV blended braking, brake pedal feel, regen-only vs friction braking.
• Advanced Driver-Assistance Braking: Automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise braking, sensor calibration awareness.
• Heavy-Duty Brake Systems: Light-truck and SUV brake characteristics, severe-duty applications.

Resources & Tools

• Brake Service Equipment: Brake lathes (on-car and off-car), brake bleeders (pressure, vacuum), brake fluid testers, micrometers, dial indicators
• Scan Tools: ABS-capable scan tools, OEM-level tools for EPB and ABS module bleeding
• Hand Tools: Torque wrenches (foot-pound and inch-pound), brake spring tools, caliper compressors, line wrenches
• Service Information: AllData, Mitchell1 ProDemand, OEM service portals; Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
• Reference Standards: ASE Education Foundation Task List (current edition); SAE J1703 brake fluid standards; FMVSS 105/135 federal brake standards
• Recommended Texts: Today's Technician: Automotive Brake Systems (Mitchell), Modern Automotive Technology (Duffy), or current ASE-aligned texts
• FLDOE Curriculum Framework: Automotive Service Technology 2 (CIP 0647060406)

Career Pathways

Completion of AER0418C supports entry into and advancement within the following automotive service occupations:

• Brake Specialist / Brake Technician — Specialized role at chains such as Midas, Brakes Plus, Pep Boys, and Tires Plus.
• Automotive Service Technician (SOC 49-3023) — General-line technician where brake work is one of the highest-volume service categories.
• Express Service Technician — Quick-service brake and tire technician at dealerships and tire/auto chains.
• Fleet Maintenance Technician — Services brakes on commercial fleets, municipal vehicles, and rental fleets.
• Mobile Brake Service Technician — On-site brake service for commercial accounts.

Brake service is among the most consistent and high-margin work in Florida's automotive service market, with strong demand across the state's metropolitan areas.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

This course aligns with the following industry-recognized credentials:

• ASE A5 – Brakes certification exam (primary alignment)
• ASE Education Foundation MLR/AST/MAST task lists for Brakes

The ASE A5 Brakes certification is one of the most commonly held single-area certifications and is often the first ASE certification new technicians earn.

Program Context

AER0418C is part of the Automotive Service Technology 2 program sequence and covers the A5 ASE area exclusively. It complements AER0453C (Suspension and Steering) — the two courses together address the chassis service competencies most often performed in general repair shops.

Articulation

Per Florida statewide articulation agreements, completion of the Automotive Service Technology PSAV program may articulate into the Automotive Service Management A.S. degree at participating Florida colleges. Students should consult the receiving institution for specific articulation credit awards.