Car brakes are often considered the most important safety feature in a vehicle. They will need to be diligently maintained to keep you and other drivers safe on the road. All drivers should know how their brake system works, so they can use and maintain them properly. Below, learn about the brake system’s components and the major types. 

How Do They Work?

Your brake system includes much more than your pedal and the brakes on your wheels. When you press down on the pedal, that force is pushed through a hydraulic system with brake fluid. This is what applies friction to the brake pads and slows the vehicle down. Stopping the car takes a lot more force than you create when you depress the pedal, so the brake system multiplies that force by several times. It does this by using the pedal as a lever, then using different-sized pistons and cylinders in the hydraulic system to trade force for distance.

What Are the Main Types?

The emergency or parking brake is a secondary system, which should not be used for normal stopping. It is to be used only in emergencies or when you want to keep a parked car in place. This system usually is operated with a lever, button, or pedal. It uses cables to apply mechanical pressure on the wheels.

When you think of a car brake, you likely think of a disc brake. These can often be seen behind the tire. The rotor is attached directly inside the wheel, and the pressure from the brake system pushes the caliper and brake pads against the rotor to create friction. The rotor sits between the two pads, and they are pressed together on either side of it.

Drum brakes also sit inside the wheel. The brake drum is attached to the wheel, and the system presses two brake shoes outward against the drum to create friction. Newer vehicles have anti-lock brakes or ABS systems. These systems apply pressure to the brakes in bursts, which keeps the system from locking up. This is particularly valuable on slippery roads in preventing the tires from skidding on the pavement.

GSBP Automotive installs, maintains, and repairs car brakes in Gulf Shores, AL. Their team of ASE-certified mechanics has been providing complete auto services to drivers of all makes and models, both foreign and domestic, for almost 30 years. View their list of auto repair and maintenance services online, and call (251) 968-7456 for a free estimate.