What are the two types of brakes in automotive braking systems?
1 Answers
There are two types of automotive brakes: disc brakes and drum brakes. Disc brakes are more expensive than drum brakes, but they offer better heat dissipation, making them more commonly used in various vehicle models. Drum brakes consist of two semicircular brake shoes installed inside the wheel hub. They utilize "leverage" to press the brake shoes against the inner surface of the hub, creating friction. Many people refer to them as "brake drums." Drum brakes can operate with lower hydraulic pressure and have an automatic self-energizing effect. They are technologically simple and cost-effective; however, their drawbacks are equally notable. The brake drum expands when heated, has a complex structure, and requires higher maintenance standards for adjusting brake pedal clearance. Disc brakes operate by using a brake caliper to clamp two brake pads against a rotor (brake disc) attached to the wheel. Their working principle is straightforward. Disc brakes excel in heat dissipation, suffer less from heat fade, respond quickly to braking inputs, and meet the demands of high-frequency braking systems like ABS and ESP. The contact area between the brake pad and disc is small, and their simple structure makes maintenance easier. Disc brake rotors generally come in ventilated and non-ventilated styles, with materials ranging from metal to ceramic.