Types of Brake Systems

Everyone focuses on how fast a car accelerates, but the stopping performance is just as important. In this article, we take a look at the different types of brake systems.

Friction. It is a simple word, but the entire brake parts industry is based on it. Every modern vehicle generates stopping power by creating friction to slow the rotation of the wheel of a vehicle. There are two primary brake systems used to do this and one additional computerized evolution that have made the modern car a stopping machine.

Brake Drums

Brake drums used to be a very popular brake system, but now are primarily used on trucks, vans and the rear wheels of some passenger cars. They stop a car using friction, but in a rather odd manner. The system consists of a drum that turns with the wheel. The drum has the shape of a Frisbee, but with a thicker edge. Brake shoes sit inside this drum. The shoe has the same curved shape of the drum. When the brakes are pressed, a hydraulic caliper pushes the brake shoe up against the drum. This creates friction and causes the wheel to slow.

Brake Rotor and Pads

The brake rotor system is the commonest system found on passenger cars. The system works by creating friction through a squeezing process. The rotor turns with the wheel. Brake pads sit on each side of roughly 2.5 inches of the rotor. When the brake pedal is pushed by the driver, the pads squeeze together. The rotor is between them and thus is squeezed. The friction created then slows the rotor and the wheel.

ABS

“ABS” stands for Anti-Lock Braking System. This isn’t really a new braking system, but is an evolution of the rotor system. The system has sensors on each wheel at the brakes. If the wheel starts to lock up when the brakes are pressed, the ABS system will decrease the brake pressure to keep the wheel spinning. Why does this matter? A sliding wheel slows down much slower than a turning wheel. The “ABS” system thus keeps cars from going into slides where the driver loses control.

These are the three types of brake systems most commonly found these days. There are other variations like air brakes on freight trucks, but most drivers will never experience them.

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