Should a substitute driving car use hydraulic brakes or cable brakes?
2 Answers
There is no absolute answer as to which is better; it depends on personal preference. Introduction to hydraulic brakes: Hydraulic brakes provide excellent braking performance with minimal effort and offer a great feel. The downside is that they may leak oil over time, regardless of the brand, and if they break, they are difficult to repair on your own—you’ll need to take them to a specialized shop. Introduction to cable brakes: Cable brakes don’t have this issue, though their feel isn’t as good as hydraulic brakes, but the braking performance is similar. Compared to hydraulic brakes, the working principle of cable brakes is much simpler. Cable brakes mainly use the force of a metal brake cable to pull the caliper piston, which then pushes the brake pads to generate braking.
I've driven several types of commuter cars before, and I feel that small cars are perfectly fine with cable brakes. This type of brake is simple, reliable, low-cost, and easy to maintain—it's completely sufficient for stop-and-go city driving. Hydraulic brakes are more suitable for heavy-duty vehicles that carry large loads, while commuter cars are lightweight and don't require such strong braking force. My current small car has cable brakes, and after three years of driving, I've hardly encountered any issues. It brakes steadily even when climbing hills after rain, proving it's safe enough. There's no need to overcomplicate things—cable brakes are practical and economical, and the best part is not having to frequently change brake fluid, which saves a lot of hassle. For a commuter vehicle, safety and durability are what matter most. There's no point in spending extra on high-end configurations that only add unnecessary worries.
