Introduction To Automotive Braking Systems

The braking effect on a car can only be achieved by external forces acting on the car in the opposite direction of the car's travel, and the magnitude of these external forces is random and uncontrollable. Therefore, a series of specialized devices must be installed on the car to achieve the above functions.
The automotive braking system refers to the installation of a specialized braking mechanism on a vehicle to ensure safe driving and increase the average speed of the vehicle in terms of technology. Generally speaking, the automotive braking system includes two independent devices: the service braking device and the parking braking device. The service brake device is operated by the driver's foot, hence it is also known as a foot brake device. The parking brake device is manually operated by the driver, hence it is also known as a hand brake device.
The function of the service braking device is to slow down or stop the car in motion at the shortest distance. The function of the parking brake device is to keep cars that have already been parked on various roads stationary. However, sometimes in emergency situations, both braking devices can be used simultaneously to increase the effectiveness of car braking. Some special purpose vehicles and vehicles that frequently drive in mountainous areas may experience overheating of the service braking system due to long-term and frequent braking. Therefore, various types of auxiliary braking devices are often added to these vehicles to stabilize the speed when going downhill.
According to the braking energy situation, the braking system can also be divided into three types: manual braking system, power braking system, and servo braking system. The manual braking system uses the driver's physical strength as the braking energy source; The power braking system uses the air pressure or hydraulic pressure converted from engine power as the braking energy source; The servo braking system uses both human and engine power as the braking energy source. In addition, according to the transmission mode of braking energy, braking systems can be divided into mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromagnetic types.
In the automotive braking system, the brake is a component used in the automotive braking system to generate a force that prevents the movement or trend of the vehicle. The brakes used in cars are friction brakes, which means that the braking torque that prevents the car from moving comes from the friction between the fixed components and the rotating working surface.