The Evolution of Automobile Brake Technology
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011From the time humans first started using transportation vehicles, the need for brakes has existed. In the beginning, there were horse-drawn carriages but soon other mechanical forms or transportation vehicles replaced them and the moving speed increased greatly. With the improvement in speed, brake machinery evolved to provide better security. At present, we utilize various kinds of brakes in our vehicles, drum brakes, disc brakes, anti-lock brakes and many more. The choices are many and it’s important that we all know a bit more about the distinctions between different braking systems.
Nearly all the car brakes used in earlier models were a kind of drum brakes. A drum brake operates with a drum which is wrapped around an axle. When pressure is applied, typically by using a metal band, the drum would compress around the axle, producing slowness of motion. However, this kind of brakes did not do well when wet. This contributed to the creation of the disc brake.
Disc brakes have a group of shoes called brake pads which push against a disc that is attached with the wheel and spins with it. You can employ this brake by mechanical, electromagnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic power. A disc brake is typically found within the wheel, following the tire. Since it was free of the difficulty drum brakes had and offered superior performance in slowing down the automobile, they quickly become the first choice for all automobiles. Disc brakes utilize brake pads made out of ceramic, asbestos, and a variety of other compounds, giving them a longer usage life.
As disc brakes grew to become an industry benchmark, there still remained the problem of the brakes locking up. Because of this, we required a superior brake system and anti-lock brake systems were designed. Anti-lock brake includes valves, speed sensors, pumps plus a controller. These things involuntarily fine-tune the brake pressure when stopping on slippery surfaces. Modern-day anti-lock brake systems are computer controlled, with each wheel having a sensor that determines the required braking pressure. Anti-lock brake systems now are an invaluable safety standard on almost all modern consumer automobiles.
Brakes must be checked often, it doesn’t matter what sort of brake you have, if it’s not in good condition you can get in serious trouble. Qualified car mechanics can check the brakes for performance and safe operation, so it will be wise to have the brakes examined often. Mechanics know how different brake systems operate and can advise any required service to keep you safe on the road.