Disc brakes slow or stop movement by applying friction and pressure. They are made of ceramic materials or cast iron and can be powered by different methods. They are more common than drum brakes and are used in sports equipment. Disc brakes are preferred due to better heat resistance, increased recovery ability, and proportional force application. Some vehicles use a combination of disc and drum brakes to keep costs down and reduce weight.
Disc brakes, like any other style of brake, are used to slow or stop movement. They work by applying friction and pressure that slows the movement of a wheel or stops it altogether. Also known as rotors, the discs are attached to the wheels, or in some cases attached to the axle.
Disc brakes are generally made of ceramic materials or cast iron. They are powered in different ways, from electromagnetic, hydraulic and pneumatic, to mechanical. When disc brakes are activated, friction is created, causing the brake pads inside the brake calipers to push against the disc.
This causes movement to slow down and can cause the wheel to stop moving altogether. These processes occur when you apply pressure to the brake pedal in your vehicle. While disc brakes have been used on vehicles since the beginning, they weren’t the most common type of braking system. They were mainly used for sports cars or other high performance vehicles due to the higher demand for braking power on such vehicles.
Today, disc brakes are more common than drum brakes. They have also found uses in sports equipment such as mountain bikes. Since there are several types of disc brakes, certain types work best for certain uses, equipment, or vehicles.
For example, with racing or cycling, slotted or perforated discs may be preferable as they allow air, dust, moisture and gas to escape through the openings in the disc. Otherwise, a film may form on the discs, which can generate excessive heat. This can lead to less than optimal performance, as well as cracking and splitting if your disc brakes are not ventilated.
Compared to drum brakes, there are a few important elements that make disc brakes the preferred option. Better heat resistance, increased recovery ability after getting wet, and the ability to apply proportional force based on the pressure applied to the brake pedal are key considerations. Still, on some light vehicles there may be a combination of disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. Since the front brakes tend to do most of the work, it makes sense that disc brakes would be used in this location.
Using both types of brakes allows manufacturers to keep costs down and helps create a simpler system for parking brakes. Weight must also be taken into account. Drum brakes add less to the overall weight of the vehicle than disc brakes, so this combination can be quite effective depending on the type of vehicle.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
