What Are the Types of Brakes?
1 Answers
There are five types of brakes: disc brakes, drum brakes, band brakes, expanding brakes, and V-brakes. Below is a detailed introduction to each type: Disc brakes: These use hydraulic transmission, offer significant braking resistance, and provide excellent braking performance. They are commonly used in high-end vehicles and are becoming increasingly popular. Drum brakes: These employ mechanical transmission, have a smaller braking resistance arm compared to disc brakes, are cost-effective, and deliver good braking performance. Band brakes: These also use mechanical transmission with a smaller braking resistance arm than disc brakes. They were widely used in early electric vehicles and are characterized by a sharp screeching sound during braking. Expanding brakes: These provide effective and high-safety braking but are limited by wheel constraints, making modifications difficult. Due to structural differences, electric-assist vehicle rear wheels can only be fitted with expanding or band brakes. Drum brake pads are wider, offering greater friction torque and longer lifespan with less wear, but they require more operational torque. Expanding brakes are mostly manual, with long cables that have a shorter lifespan and inferior performance compared to drum brakes. V-brakes: A very common braking device on bicycles, they generate friction by clamping the wheel rim with two brake pads to achieve braking. Named for their 'V' shape, V-brakes are widely used in various bicycles and electric bikes. They are low-cost and easy to maintain but can be slippery on rainy, muddy, or water-covered roads. Braking precautions include: Avoid frequent braking on long downhill sections, as friction between brake pads and discs (or drums) generates heat. Excessive braking can cause overheating of the discs (or drums) and abnormal hardening (carbonization) of the brake pads, drastically reducing braking efficiency and potentially leading to accidents. On such roads, use low gear and minimal throttle, relying on the engine's low RPM to control speed. Avoid frequent use of emergency braking, which is a last-resort measure. Emergency braking significantly damages vehicle components, especially transmission and braking parts. It is said that one emergency brake can wear out braking components 30 to 50 times more than normal braking and cause substantial damage to other parts like the transmission. At higher speeds, braking can be done without pressing the clutch pedal while releasing the throttle, using the engine's drag to assist in slowing down. When speed decreases, promptly press the clutch pedal to prevent engine stalling due to RPM drops, which can harm the engine. Regularly check brake fluid levels, quality, and brake pad thickness. Immediately refill or replace if any abnormalities are detected.