BRAKE SYSTEM
Modern automotive braking systems combine leverage and multiplied hydraulic force to stop your vehicle. Pressure is generated once your foot presses the brake pedal to slow or stop the vehicle.
Applied at the brake pedal, the driver's braking effort is multiplied by the brake booster and then applied to the master cylinder. The master cylinder transmits the braking effort.via the brake fluid.to the brake calipers (on disc brakes) or to the wheel cylinders (on non-disc brakes). Consistent with the driver's pedal effort, first the calipers press the brake pads against the brake rotors. Then, the wheel cylinders apply the brake shoes against the brake drums, thereby braking the vehicle. Most new cars have anti-lock brakes (ABS) for faster, safer braking. The parking/emergency brake can be used as a mechanical or electronic backup in case the hydraulic system fails.
Braking System Components
Brake fluid transmits the force from the brake pedal to each wheel. Brake fluid degrades over time and needs to be replaced as a part of regular vehicle maintenance. Check your owner.s manual for recommended service intervals.
The master cylinder is linked to the brake booster and, in turn, to the brake pedal. It regulates the fluid pressure exerted onto the brake discs or drums. When the brake pedal is pressed, the master cylinder creates hydraulic pressure in the brake lines. This pressure pushes pistons in the caliper that force the brake pads against the rotors. On drum brakes, the wheel cylinder forces the brake shoes against the drums. The harder the brake pedal is pressed, the greater the pressure created by the master cylinder, and the faster the car stops.
It takes a significant amount of force to stop a vehicle. It would be very difficult for a typical driver to produce this force without a brake booster. Located between the brake pedal and the master cylinder, the booster is powered by the vacuum created by either the engine or an electric pump. Nearly all modern vehicles are equipped with disc brakes on their front wheels. Disc brakes consist of a brake rotor (disc), a brake caliper, and two brake pads per wheel. Friction is generated when the calipers force the pads against the rotors, thus slowing the rotation of the wheel and the car.
Drum brakes are more common on older vehicles, although some modern vehicles still use them in the rear. Drum brakes consist of a wheel cylinder, brake shoe, and a round brake drum that rotates with the wheel. When the brake pedal is pressed, the wheel cylinder pushes the brake shoes outward against the drum. The resulting friction slows the rotation of the wheels and the car.
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