After getting into a tricky situation on the road this morning, I was glad that I had my braking system there to help me avoid a potential accident. Curious to find out more about how the internal processes work, I did some research online to get all of the details on how brakes work in a car.
How do brakes work in a car? The process that a braking system in a car goes through in order to stop the wheels will vary between the types of brakes that are in the vehicle. The two main types of braking systems are disk and drum brakes, which will each follow different processes for braking.
In short, the disk brakes will transfer fluid to a round, disk shaped rotor and indirectly apply pressure from the components of the brakes into the wheels of the car in order to stop them from moving. Drum brakes, on the other hand, will apply force to the wheels with tiny brake shoes that are inside of a drum shaped component on the rear end.
When it comes to driving any kind of car, the braking system is one of the most important safety features that you can have. Along with being able to move the car in the direction that you would like to go, you must also be able to stop it in motion on command.
The inner workings of the braking system in a car is a very interesting process, to say the least. If you are looking to find a detailed outline on what is going on inside of your car when you push on the brake pedal, this article can help. Keep reading to get all the information on how brakes work in a car.
The Types Of Braking Systems In a Car
Before we can get into the detailed process of how brakes work in a car, there is one important detail that most be highlighted. There are generally two different types of braking systems in a car, which will vary from vehicle to vehicle.
These two types of braking systems are called disk brakes and drum brakes. While they both work within themselves to reach a common goal with a slightly different process, they start and end with similar steps.
To begin, we will be comparing the two types of braking systems. Take a look at the lists down below for a quick break down.
Disk Brakes:
- Distributed between all 4 wheels of the car
- Rotor is in the shape of a disk
- The rotor spins inside of the wheel
- Pressure is applied to the wheels indirectly to bring them to a complete stop
Drum Brakes:
- Focus on the back wheels of the car
- Fashioned in the form of a round drum that contains shoes inside
- Shoes exert force on the drum to bring the wheels to a complete stop
As you can see, the fundamental differences between these two types of braking systems are the shape of the components and the areas in which they work.
The disk braking system, to start off, is made up of a rotor that is formed in the shape of a round disk. These types of brakes are distributed between all 4 wheels of the car, instead of in just one localized area.
When the disk braking system gets to work, the process ultimately involves pressure being indirectly applied to the wheels in order to bring them to a complete stop, which is a process that will be outlined in more detail within the next section.
Drum brakes, on the other hand, focus more on the back wheels of the car only, and are not distributed to the front tires. This type of system is fashioned in the form of a round drum with a pair of shoes on the inside.
When the drum braking system is put to work, the shoes inside of the drum will exert their own force, bringing the wheels to a stop on the outside.
While it is true that these types of braking systems can be found in a variety of different vehicles, disk brakes are the most common. In the vast majority of modern day vehicles, the disk braking system will be used to gain control of all 4 wheels, bringing the motion to a close on immediate command.
Drum braking systems can still be found in some select models of cars, but they are much less common than the alternative.
Now that you understand the difference between the two main types of brakes, you will be able to follow a deeper explanation of how each one works from the time you apply pressure to the brake pedal to the moment that your vehicle successfully stops on the road.
Keep reading to the next sections in order to find a detailed outline of both of these processes.
How Disk Brakes Work In a Car
The first process that we will dive into is that of a disk braking system. As mentioned in the previous section, disk brakes are comprised of a round, disk shaped rotor that is essential in bringing the wheels of the vehicle to a complete stop.
Take a look at the outlined list down below to find an overview of how disk brakes work to stop your vehicle.
How Disk Brakes Work In a Car:
- Brake fluid is present inside of the cylinder component
- The brake fluid is forced into another piece called the caliper
- The caliper pushes itself up against the piston
- The pressure is transferred to both of the brake pads within the system
- The brake pads are squeezed tightly against the rotor by the piston (with high pressure)
- The brake components apply this pressure to the wheels of the car indirectly until they come to a stop
When you push on the brakes using a disk braking system, a transfer of fluids will begin the motion of stopping the tires. This special brake fluid is already present and stored inside of the cylinder component of the wheels.
After the signal is received, this brake fluid will be forced to travel into another component of the system called the caliper. The caliper will push itself up against the piston, and all of this pressure will be transferred to both of the nearby rake pads.
The brake pads are squeezed tightly against the rotor by the piston with high levels of pressure, and this persists against the wheels of the car until the finally stop turning.
How Drum Brakes Work In a Car
Drum brakes follow a similar process to the disk braking system that was outlined above, only with a few minor differences. As you already know, drum brakes are concerned with the rear wheels of the car.
How Drum Brakes Work In a Car:
- Brake fluid is forced into the cylinder component of the wheel
- The cylinder inside of the wheel pushes the brake shoes out
- The brake shoes exert a strong force to the inner lining of the small drum
- The linings of the drum transfer this pressure directly into the wheels of the car, slowing and stopping them.
Drum braking systems begin to work when the brake fluid is forced into the cylinder component of the wheel. This cylinder will push the brake shoes out, and they will exert a strong force to the inner lining of the small drum piece.
The linings of the drum will transfer all of this pressure directly into the wheels of the car, consequently slowing and stopping them.