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Brake Systems: Disc Brakes, Master Cylinder, Brake Pedal, Drum Brake
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Published: March 27, 2007
One of the most overlooked features on any car are the brake systems. Sure, car companies promise that their cars will stop on a dime, but how closely does the average car buyer actually look at how the brake systems on their cars actually work, and which ones are best? There are two brake systems currently in common use in American cars: the drum brakes and the disc brake. But which brake systems are the best?
First, to understand brake systems, one needs to understand what they do. Of course their primary function is to stop the car, but there's a complicated method behind doing just that. When a driver pushes on his brake pedal, a stopper is depressed in the brake's master cylinder. This action pushes brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake unit at each of the wheels, where a piston or drum is activated, causing friction against the wheel, which will ultimately come to a stop. Leaks in the brake line, or air in the brake fluid can cause major problems and even brake failure, so it's important to get the brake lines and master cylinder checked frequently.
The oldest model of car brake systems is the drum brake. A drum brake is a cylinder attached to the wheels of the car, which, when filled with hydraulic fluid, push against the wheels causing the car to stop. If a car uses the drum brake, they are often only attached to the back wheels, because the friction caused by the momentum of the front wheels causes the drums to become extremely hot, which can be very dangerous next to the engine and other key components in the front of the car. As a result, a drum brake is considered to be the most dangerous and unreliable brake systems, but many modern cars still use it because it is far cheaper than other brake systems. When implemented correctly, a driver with his foot on the brake pedal probably won't notice the difference, but if there are any issues with the drums, it could spell disaster.
The most popular newer model of car brakes are disc brakes. Disc brakes use a piston attached to a caliper which squeezes the brake pads onto a disc attached to the wheel. This results in much faster response to the depression of the brake pedal, and disc brakes are considered to be the best and most safe brake systems for new model cars. In fact, these break systems are used on airplanes and other heavy machinery as a means of stopping especially fast momentum very quickly. The main issue with these brake systems is that the constant friction of metal on metal with the brake pads and discs, wears the pads out over time. These brake systems need to be replaced fairly often, which can get quite costly. If they are not changed, or break, disc brakes aren't any safer than their competitors.
When buying a new car, one of the first things a consumer should do is make sure they understand the brake systems of the cars on the market. Brake systems are one of the most important safety features of a car, and if the system is faulty or the driver isn't familiar with it, it can cause major trouble on the road. There are still a lot of popular car models on the road featuring the drum brake, which will likely bring the cost of the car down considerably. These are fine, but drivers with drum brakes must be aware of the safety and stopping issues of drum brakes, and drive accordingly. Disc brakes are a far more safe option, but buyers can expect to be paying a premium, and the car will require constant maintenance. Either way, understanding brake systems will help better understand the car itself.
Sources
Ofria, Charles. “A Short Course on Brakes.” The Family Car Web Magazine. 2000-2005. SmartTrac Computer Systems Inc. 26 Mar.2007. http://www.familycar.com/brakes.htm.
Ciulla, Vincent. “DIY: How to Replace/Rebuild a Brake Master Cylinder.” About:Auto Repair. 2004. About, Inc. 26 Mar. 2007. http://autorepair.about.com/od/otherodddiyjobs/l/a a092504b.htm.
Nice, Karim. “How Disc Brakes Work.” How Stuff Works. 21 Aug. 2000. 26 Mar. 2007. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/disc-brake.htm.
“Drum Brake.” Wikipedia. 20 Mar, 2007. 26 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_brake.
First, to understand brake systems, one needs to understand what they do. Of course their primary function is to stop the car, but there's a complicated method behind doing just that. When a driver pushes on his brake pedal, a stopper is depressed in the brake's master cylinder. This action pushes brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake unit at each of the wheels, where a piston or drum is activated, causing friction against the wheel, which will ultimately come to a stop. Leaks in the brake line, or air in the brake fluid can cause major problems and even brake failure, so it's important to get the brake lines and master cylinder checked frequently.
The oldest model of car brake systems is the drum brake. A drum brake is a cylinder attached to the wheels of the car, which, when filled with hydraulic fluid, push against the wheels causing the car to stop. If a car uses the drum brake, they are often only attached to the back wheels, because the friction caused by the momentum of the front wheels causes the drums to become extremely hot, which can be very dangerous next to the engine and other key components in the front of the car. As a result, a drum brake is considered to be the most dangerous and unreliable brake systems, but many modern cars still use it because it is far cheaper than other brake systems. When implemented correctly, a driver with his foot on the brake pedal probably won't notice the difference, but if there are any issues with the drums, it could spell disaster.
The most popular newer model of car brakes are disc brakes. Disc brakes use a piston attached to a caliper which squeezes the brake pads onto a disc attached to the wheel. This results in much faster response to the depression of the brake pedal, and disc brakes are considered to be the best and most safe brake systems for new model cars. In fact, these break systems are used on airplanes and other heavy machinery as a means of stopping especially fast momentum very quickly. The main issue with these brake systems is that the constant friction of metal on metal with the brake pads and discs, wears the pads out over time. These brake systems need to be replaced fairly often, which can get quite costly. If they are not changed, or break, disc brakes aren't any safer than their competitors.
When buying a new car, one of the first things a consumer should do is make sure they understand the brake systems of the cars on the market. Brake systems are one of the most important safety features of a car, and if the system is faulty or the driver isn't familiar with it, it can cause major trouble on the road. There are still a lot of popular car models on the road featuring the drum brake, which will likely bring the cost of the car down considerably. These are fine, but drivers with drum brakes must be aware of the safety and stopping issues of drum brakes, and drive accordingly. Disc brakes are a far more safe option, but buyers can expect to be paying a premium, and the car will require constant maintenance. Either way, understanding brake systems will help better understand the car itself.
Sources
Ofria, Charles. “A Short Course on Brakes.” The Family Car Web Magazine. 2000-2005. SmartTrac Computer Systems Inc. 26 Mar.2007. http://www.familycar.com/brakes.htm.
Ciulla, Vincent. “DIY: How to Replace/Rebuild a Brake Master Cylinder.” About:Auto Repair. 2004. About, Inc. 26 Mar. 2007. http://autorepair.about.com/od/otherodddiyjobs/l/a a092504b.htm.
Nice, Karim. “How Disc Brakes Work.” How Stuff Works. 21 Aug. 2000. 26 Mar. 2007. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/disc-brake.htm.
“Drum Brake.” Wikipedia. 20 Mar, 2007. 26 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_brake.
