Does a car brake the front wheels or the rear wheels?
2 Answers
The car braking system is divided into service brakes and parking brakes. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. Service brakes: Generally, all four wheels are braked together, but the braking force on the front and rear wheels may slightly differ. Braking either applies to the rear wheels or both front and rear wheels together. If the front wheels are not braked properly, there is a risk of strong inertial force causing the rear wheels to lift, leading to a rollover. 2. Parking brakes: Parking brakes commonly include hand brakes and foot brakes. The foot brake is the primary braking mechanism, and typically, all four wheels are braked together, ensuring the car neither jerks forward abruptly nor compromises safety and stability.
I've been driving for many years, and every time I brake, I can feel the front of the car slightly sinking. This is because the braking system acts not only on the front wheels but also on the rear wheels. The front wheels handle most of the braking force, about 70%, due to weight transfer caused by the engine being in the front; the rear wheels provide balance to prevent skidding or fishtailing. If only the front wheels brake, the car becomes unstable and prone to losing control; if only the rear wheels brake, the stopping distance becomes too long, which is very dangerous. In actual driving, especially on wet and slippery roads during rainy days, the coordinated work of all four wheels ensures safe stopping. I regularly check the wear on the brake pads, and both front and rear brakes need to be well-maintained, otherwise, it affects overall performance. In short, modern cars are ingeniously designed to involve each wheel in braking, ensuring a smooth drive.
