Brake System Parts, Functions & Short Descriptions

Brake shoes are the reason that a car can stop. Controlled by the wheel cylinder, these brake shoes are on the sides of the brake assembly.

The braking system is one of the most important systems in a vehicle because of its role in ensuring safety. The system comprises of various parts with different functions that synergize to help slow down the vehicle’s tires until they come to a halt.

Understanding the brake system parts will help you know how each part functions and the essence of keeping them in good condition at all times. The description of the various parts of your car’s brake system has been unveiled in this article.

Take a few minutes to go through the subsequent sections below to understand the Brake System Components and function, as well as the different types of brake systems.

Types of Brake Systems
There are several types of brake systems with their application in different kinds of vehicles in the automotive industry. Most of the common types of brake systems include the following.

type of brake system
Mechanical brake system
The mechanical braking system was designed to transfer the brake force applied on the brake pedal to the final brake rotors or drum via several mechanical linkages, such as the fulcrums, cylindrical rods, springs, etc., to help slow down the tires and stop the vehicle.

However, the mechanical brake system was found in older vehicles. Due to its less effective compared to the recent braking systems designed in modern cars, the mechanical brake system has become obsolete.

Hydraulic brake system
The hydraulic brake system is built to transfer brake force from the brake pedal first by converting the force into hydraulic pressure through the master cylinder before sending the pressure from the master cylinder to the final brake rotor or brake drum via the brake lines.

A hydraulic brake system uses fluid instead of mechanical linkages (as in the case of a mechanical brake system) to transmit the force from a vehicle’s brake pedal to slow down and stop the wheels.

The hydraulic brake system is more effective than the mechanical braking system; hence it is currently used in various bikes and vehicles on the road today.

Hydraulic brake system
Electrical brake system
The electrical brake system is used by electric vehicles. It is designed to apply braking force through the electrical motor, which also serves as the vehicle’s main power source.

The electrical brake system is subcategorized into plugging, regenerative, and dynamic/rheostat braking systems.

Drum brake system
Drum brake system

The drum brake system is designed with a cylinder wheel, brake shoes, and brake drum. The system uses the force from the pedal to press the brake shoes outward against the rotating drum part and creates friction that helps to slow down the vehicle’s wheels until they halt.

This brake system generates minimal heat because the brake on the front tires creates most of the force that helps to stop the wheels. It also provides more braking force due to the frictional contact area around the circumference.

Read Also:

How to Bleed Drum Brakes? Best Methods
Step By Step Guided On How to Adjust Drum Brakes
Disc brake system
Disc brake system

The disc brake system is built with brake rotors, which rotate along with the wheels; the brake pads, which create frictional contact with the rotors; and the calipers, which house the pads.

When you press down the brake pedal, the force generated triggers the calipers to push the pads against the discs (rotors) to create the friction that helps to slow down the wheels and stop the vehicle.

Hand brake/emergency brake system
Hand brake
The hand brake system is also known as an emergency brake. It is independent of the regular service brake. The brake system has a hand-operated lever that is connected through a metallic cable to the brake drum.

This braking system is used as the parking brake in a vehicle to ensure that the wheels do not roll forward or backward. The parking brake engages when you pull the hand-operated lever, which creates tension in the metallic rod that further actuates the brake drum or disc rotor for final parking.

Electromagnetic brake system
An electromagnetic brake system is a type of braking operation that involves applying brake force through electronic and magnetic power. It is designed to achieve frictionless braking, such that there will be no wear and tear on brake parts.

However, this is a new technology in the automotive industry designed to take over the traditional braking system in modern vehicles.

Some of the advantages of the electromagnetic brake system are; frictionless operation, lack of wear and tear, no lubrication required, high reliability, and low maintenance cost.

types of braking system 
Brake System Parts / Components 
Various brake system configurations are designed with different parts. While some disc brakes are built on all four wheels of some vehicles, others are designed with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear wheels.

However, the following are some of the major brake system parts in most vehicles in the automotive industry.

Master cylinder
Brake Master cylinder

The master cylinder of a hydraulic brake system is responsible for pushing the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the brake lines.

Most vehicle brake cylinders have a split cylinder operation, such that one of the cylinders manages the braking operation of one of the front wheels and the corresponding rear wheel, while the other cylinder takes charge of the other front wheel and its corresponding rear wheel.

The separation of the cylinders helps to ensure that one side of the brake system still functions in case the other becomes defective, such that the driver can manage to control the vehicle.

Read Also:

What are the Symptoms of a Bad Brake Master Cylinder
How do you Test a Brake Master Cylinder?
Brake Rotor
Brake Rotor

The brake rotor is a major part of the brake system. It is made of cast iron, which is a heavy component with a high heat-absorbing capacity.

However, some rotors are vented in order to aid heat dissipation. The vanes or vents are located between the two discs. The vents help to ensure airflow into the rotors for cooling purposes. The brake rotor is attached to the vehicle’s wheel. The component spins as the vehicle moves.

When the brake is applied, the brake pad in the caliper rubs against the brake rotor to create the friction required to slow down the disc. This further slows down the vehicle’s wheel until it comes to a halt.