What is the working principle of disc brakes?
2 Answers
Here is a detailed introduction to the working principle of disc brakes: 1. During braking: When braking, the brake fluid is pressed into the inner and outer wheel cylinders. Under hydraulic pressure, the pistons push the two brake pads against the brake disc, generating frictional torque to achieve braking. 2. Deformation occurs: The edges of the rectangular rubber sealing rings in the wheel cylinder grooves undergo slight elastic deformation due to the friction from the pistons. Below is additional information about disc brakes: 1. Types: There are hydraulic types, controlled by hydraulic pressure, with main components including the brake disc, wheel cylinder, brake caliper, and oil pipes. 2. Advantages: Fast heat dissipation, lightweight, simple construction, and easy adjustment. Particularly, they perform well under high loads with good high-temperature resistance and stable braking performance.
The working principle of disc brakes is actually quite intuitive. Having driven for many years, I've experienced numerous emergency braking situations. When you press the brake pedal, the brake fluid in the master cylinder is compressed and forced through the pipes to the calipers, which then clamp the two brake pads against the rotating brake disc. Friction is generated, the rotation speed decreases, and the car comes to a stop. This differs from drum brakes—disc brakes dissipate heat quickly and are less prone to overheating and failure during frequent braking, offering better safety performance. However, it's important to note that brake discs can easily overheat during long downhill drives on mountain roads, leading to brake fade. That's why I always remind my friends to regularly check the thickness of the brake pads and the fluid level, and replace them when necessary to ensure they function properly in emergencies. Severely worn brake pads can make the brakes feel spongy, and those few seconds of delayed response could lead to an accident.
