The braking system is designed to decrease the speed of the vehicle. In order to slow the vehicle there needs to be friction between parts. Unlike the lubrication system, where minimizing friction is the goal, the braking system is designed to use friction for control. The amount of friction created needs to be controlled by the operator of the vehicle.
This is done by the force the operator exerts on the brake pedal. Force is defined as the pushing or pulling action of one object upon another. In this example, the operator’s foot is one object, while the brake pedal is the other object. The brake pedal is mechanically connected to a hydraulic unit called a master cylinder. The master cylinder is where brake fluid is stored. As force is exerted on the brake pedal, fluid is sent to all of the wheels through brake lines. Once at the wheels, the fluid pressure is converted back to mechanical pressure. This pressure causes the brake pads or shoes (discussed later) to move to create the needed friction against a rotating disc or drum at the wheels to slow the vehicle. Friction increases as the operator pushes harder on the brake pedal.
Types of Brakes
The two types of brakes commonly used on the automobile are:
Disc Brakes
Drum Brakes
Some vehicles only have disc brakes, but many vehicles have a combination of the two systems. On vehicles with both systems, disc brakes are usually front brakes while drum brakes are usually rear brakes. Disc and drum brake systems use a brake pedal, master cylinder, and brake lines. The major difference between the disc and drum brake systems is the hardware at the wheels. Both disc and drum brake systems use a frictional type material that slowly wears as the brakes are applied. More recently, manufacturers have been installing disc brakes on all four wheels as standard equipment.
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