Brake Pads, Parts, and Repairs

In this modern world there are many ways to get from place to place, and many vehicles that can aid in that purpose. Engineers and scientists are always trying to find new ways to go faster and higher, but no matter how fast a vehicle can go eventually it will need to stop, preferably in a safe matter. A brick wall will stop most vehicles, but not very comfortably. A more efficient design is a brake built into the vehicle that uses friction to slow and eventually stop.

Car brakes come in many different designs, but almost all of them work in the same way. They use friction to slow the wheel down. The tire has enough friction of its own that when the wheel is slowed it brings the entire vehicle to a stop. There are two basic types of brakes, drum brakes and disc brakes. A drum brake has a rotating drum that is connected with the wheel.

There are brake shoes inside these drums that do not rotate and are connected to brake pads that are designed to wear out over time necessitating in periodic brake replacement. When the driver pushes down on the brake pedal it in turn pushes the brake pad onto the rotating drum, slowing it down and generating heat in the process. These are the cheapest and most common brakes found on cars.

A higher quality braking device is a disc brake because it dissipates heat better. Instead of a rotating drum, a brake disc is connected to the wheel and a special brake caliper sandwiches a portion of the brake rotor, like bike brakes sandwich a portion of the bike rim. The calipers apply friction to both sides of the disc, or rotor, which results in increased stopping power. These are most commonly found on motorcycles, sports cars, and luxury cars because they are more expensive but offer superior braking in every condition. Some cars use a combination of both types of brakes, the rear brakes are always drum brakes, while the front brakes will always be disc. As soon as the brakes are applied, the majority of the weight and force of the vehicle is transferred to the front wheels which end up doing most of the work when braking.

Brakes should be properly maintained, they are the number one safety feature of any vehicle. Brake repair is fairly easy for anyone who is mechanically inclined. Many brake parts are standardized and can be found at local auto shops, and are very easy to install without any expensive or elaborate tools.

Different vehicles use different types of brakes and braking methods. Large vehicles, such as trains and semis incorporate air brakes to slow their momentum. They work by using compressed air to push the brake pads onto the rotor, on a train the pad is pushed directly onto the wheel which is durable enough that it will not wear out due to regular braking. Locking up the brakes on a train for emergency stops will ruin every wheel that is locked, they will have a smooth surface where the wheel slid on the tracks. Compressed air provides much more stopping power than hydraulic and mechanical lines found in cars.

 

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