How do brakes stop a car

Here are some steps to maintain your car braking system to help you out. Contact us now for affordable tires and brakes and other car maintenance. Briarcliff Manor, NY Complete service and repair history is available for your vehicles. Just one more way we are helping you stay informed! Request An Appointment. How does your car brake system work? The car brake system works in a few ways: Your foot pushes on the brake pedal and the force generated by your leg is amplified several times by mechanical leverage.

It is then amplified further by the action of the brake booster. A piston moves into the cylinder AND it squeezes hydraulic fluid out of the end. Hydraulic brake fluid is forced around the entire braking system within a network of brake lines and hoses.

The servo unit that provides the assistance has a pipe connection to the inlet manifold. A direct-acting servo is fitted between the brake pedal and the master cylinder. The brake pedal pushes a rod that in turn pushes the master-cylinder piston. But the brake pedal also works on a set of air valves, and there is a large rubber diaphragm connected to the master-cylinder piston.

When the brakes are off, both sides of the diaphragm are exposed to the vacuum from the manifold. Pressing the brake pedal closes the valve linking the rear side of the diaphragm to the manifold, and opens a valve that lets in air from outside. The higher pressure of the outside air forces the diaphragm forward to push on the master-cylinder piston, and thereby assists the braking effort. If the pedal is then held, and pressed no further, the air valve admits no more air from outside, so the pressure on the brakes remains the same.

When the pedal is released, the space behind the diaphragm is reopened to the manifold, so the pressure drops and the diaphragm falls back. If the vacuum fails because the engine stops, for example the brakes still work because there is a normal mechanical link between the pedal and the master cylinder.

But much more force must be exerted on the brake pedal to apply them. Some cars have an indirect-acting servo fitted in the hydraulic lines between the master cylinder and the brakes. Such a unit can be mounted anywhere in the engine compartment instead of having to be directly in front of the pedal.

It, too, relies on manifold vacuum to provide the boost. Pressing the brake pedal causes hydraulic pressure build up from the master cylinder, a valve opens and that triggers the vacuum servo. A disc brake has a disc that turns with the wheel.

The disc is straddled by a caliper , in which there are small hydraulic pistons worked by pressure from the master cylinder. The pistons press on friction pads that clamp against the disc from each side to slow or stop it. The pads are shaped to cover a broad sector of the disc.

The pistons move only a tiny distance to apply the brakes, and the pads barely clear the disc when the brakes are released. They have no return springs. Rubber sealing rings round the pistons are designed to let the pistons slip forward gradually as the pads wear down, so that the tiny gap remains constant and the brakes do not need adjustment.

Many later cars have wear sensors leads embedded in the pads. When the pads are nearly worn out, the leads are exposed and short-circuited by the metal disc, illuminating a warning light on the instrument panel. A drum brake has a hollow drum that turns with the wheel. Its open back is covered by a stationary backplate on which there are two curved shoes carrying friction linings. Therefore, if 12 pounds of force area applied to the pedal, pounds are generated as the brake pads are squeezed by the wheels.

Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that transfers force, creating pressure that ultimately enhances braking force. If there is a brake fluid leak and it is fairly slow, there will not be sufficient fluid remaining to fill up the brake cylinder.

As a result, the brakes will not work as designed. If the leak is significant, the initial time the brakes are pressed will cause the fluid to leak, spurring total brake failure. Few people are aware that there are two different types of auto brake systems: drum and disc.

Disc brakes are the more efficient of the two. Both types of vehicle brake systems rely on friction to reduce speed. The force applied to the brake pedal is translated to hydraulic pressure that moves through the hydraulic fluid lines directly to the wheels, causing the brake shoes to press against the drum brakes. If the brake system is a disc system, the pressure moves through the fluid lines, reaches the wheels and causes the disc pads to press against the brake rotors.

The ensuing fiction reduces wheel rotation in relation to the level of force applied to the pedal. New vehicles are equipped with anti-lock braking systems or ABS for short. This is an automated system that stops the wheels from stopping their rotation and subsequently skidding. ABS enhances control and reduces stopping distances on both slick and dry surfaces.

This system is designed so the driver does not have to pump the brakes. Rather, the driver merely needs to press the brakes with considerable force, leave the foot on the pedal and let the system work its magic. Brakes do not Last Forever. Your brakes will eventually endure wear and tear to the level that they require replacement.

It is a mistake to let your brakes wear down to the level that metal presses against metal. Once this occurs, replacing the brake drum or rotor will prove quite expensive. This is precisely why you should have a brake inspection conducted as soon as you notice any indication of wear. If you notice your vehicle pulls to the side when you press the brakes, it is cause for concern.