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Automotive Disk Brakes

Introduction

Automotive brakes have evolved considerably from a primitive wooden block holding back movement to the advanced Anti-lock Braking Systems in use today. Disc brakes offer better protection against heating up as compared to drum brakes. This is due to small vents in the disk rotor that constantly circulates air to cool the brake down. Further innovation has provided Anti-lock Braking System, which is widely used in expensive cars today.

History

Primitive braking systems consisted of a brake lever that pressed a simple wooden block against the wheel which would then slow down the movement of a cart. This system was used in horse-drawn carts and stage coaches and early locomotives (www.Dbrake.com). Frederick William Lanchester, a British engineer developed the disc brake in 1890s and used it in his automobile factory. He also patented it. However, it was another 50 years before the disc brakes caught on with the automotive industry and found widespread acceptance (Petrascu, 2009).

As materials used in the manufacture of wheels evolved, braking systems also improved. By early 20th century, mechanical brakes (using some type of stoppage to the wheels) came to an end. Malcolm Loughead developed a hydraulic braking system in 1918. Hydraulic brakes used fluids to transmit the force from the pressed pedal to the pistons and finally, to the brake shoes. These brakes distributed heat ineffectively. Thus, Lanchester's disc brakes found new acceptance after 50 years of being invented (Petrascu, 2009).

Comparison of how Drum Brakes and Disc Brakes work

Drum Brakes

Brake systems in the early 20th century, after the wooden block era, used a drum type brake on all four wheels. The drum brake is still in used today. It is known as drum brake because the parts are encased in a drum-like structure that rotates with the wheel. A set of brake shoes push against the drum inside the casing on pressing the pedal (Brauer, 2009). Fluid is pushed into the cylinder, and in turn, it pushes the brake shoes out. The brake shoes stop the wheel by pressing the friction linings against the drum (Ofria, 2012). Fluid is the medium which transfers the force against the pedal into the pressing of the brake shoes. The Brake shoes are made of a heat-resistant material (Brauer, 2009).

In situations requiring heavy braking like downhill or frequent slow downs, these brakes lose effectiveness. Usually this fading is due to too much heat build-up ...