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The braking system of an automobile is made up of mechanical parts which work in a coordinated fashion and assist in slowing down an automobile or completely stop it. Brakes work by creating friction between the moving parts of the vehicle and the brake components, thus regulating the speed of a vehicle. Based on the physics braking, brakes have to exert 4 times the energy of a moving vehicle in order to bring the automobile to a halt.

Different types of brakes are installed in automobiles of all kinds, trucks, trains, motorcycles, etc. Some common braking systems are: drum brakes (single leading edge), drum brakes (double leading edge), disc brakes, disc brakes (full-contact), power brakes, cross-linked brakes, hand brakes, hydraulic brakes and Anti lock Braking Systems (ABS). A braking system is perhaps the most important system in an automobile because it helps to keep the vehicle under control and keep the driver safe.



Braking Systems and Brake Components

From drum brakes to power-assisted brakes, braking systems have been critical to automobiles and have continuously evolved with them. Today many path braking technologies and brake components such as brake boosters, brake cylinders, brake hydraulic valve, brake lines, etc., lend a braking system high efficacy. They are also the key behind advanced braking systems such as the anti-lock braking system. The following are some braking systems and their components.

Disc Brakes

Disc brakes make use of friction generated between the disc attached to a wheel and the wheel itself, to slow or stop an automobile. Disc brakes comprise brake pads that serve as friction material and are fixed onto a device called a brake caliper. When the brake pedal is pushed by a driver the brake pads are mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electromagnetically forced against both sides of the disc mounted on the wheels, thus regulating the speed.

Drum Brakes

Louis Renault is credited for inventing the modern drum brakes in 1902. Drum brakes regulate speed by causing friction between the wheels and a set of shoes or pads that push against the inside surface of a rotating drum. The drum is attached to the rotating wheels. Typically, drum brakes are classified as either  leading/trailing or twin leading. Out of the two types, the twin leading drum brakes are more effective.

Hand Brakes

Hand brakes are latching brakes and are normally used to keep an automobile stationary, when not being driven. Also known as e-brake, emergency brake, park brake, parking brake or slide stick, the brakes are often configured on the floor and between front passenger and the driver. However, they can even be configured as a lever at the bottom of the dashboard, or as a foot-operated pedal. The brake comprises a cable that connects the braking system at one end and a lever on the other. The driver operates the hand-lever (or a pedal) to actuate or release the brake.

Power Brakes

A braking system employing power braking uses the engine's power and/or the power of batteries to assist the driver in braking. Although conventional brakes  generate enough force to regulate the speed of an automobile, power brakes further enhance this power by supplementing it from other sources (i.e. engine/batteries), thus causing highly efficient braking. Some common types of power brakes are: air suspended brakes, vacuum suspended brakes, hydraulic booster and electro-hydraulic booster brakes.

Hydraulic Brakes

Hydraulic brakes consists of a braking mechanism that uses brake fluid, to apply the braking force from the controlling unit (viz. brake pedal) to the actual brake mechanism. Hydraulic brakes are based on a multiple piston system, wherein the brake pedal when pushed, produces an equivalent force on each of the output pistons, thus multiplying the force and cause efficient braking.

Brake Components

Brake Booster

A brake booster is a useful braking system component that enhances braking performance by augmenting the pressure applied when a brake pedal is pushed. When the engine is running it produces vacuum, a brake booster collects this vacuum through a rubber hose and uses it to amplify braking power. So even when the brake pedal is pushed only lightly it causes more braking action, thus making the brakes more sensitive.

Brake Pedal

A brake pedal is a foot operated pedal, that when pushed by the drivers, moves a piston in the master brake cylinder to regulate the speed of an automobile.

Brake Cylinder

An automobile's brake cylinder or a wheel cylinder is a component found in drum brake systems. Installed at each of the wheels, its function is to exert pressure onto the shoes so as to enable a contact between the shoes and the drum, thus actuating a braking action.

Other Brake Components

Other essential brake components include, Brake Hydraulic Valve, Brake Lines, Brake Pedal, Brake Pumps, Brake Roll and Wheel Studs.

Buying Tips

1. Always prefer new auto parts instead of used ones.

2. Choose your suppliers carefully, establish a reasonable level of trust towards a supplier, through referrals, testimonial, or certifications.

3. Be wary of suppliers offering products at extraordinarily low prices.

4. Ensure the specifics of the products you require from the supplier, before placing the order, a sample inspection is often the best way to do it.

5. You need to understand the terms and conditions including warranties and guarantees associated with the supplies you order.

Industry Outlook

In the wake of rising gas prices worldwide, many manufacturers within the automobile industry have scaled down production of new automobiles, especially the bigger vehicles like the State Utility Vehicles (SUVs). Consequently, the autoparts industry too has taken a hit. Nevertheless, the demand for automotive parts such as braking system and its components still exists, albeit lowered.

In 2006, the market for friction products and materials was worth $6.9 billion in North America, however this figure dipped by a small margin in 2007 and was valued at $6.8 billion.

Off late the brake system designers have been pressed to produce better systems in terms of a higher performance and newer, more effective materials that weigh less, but without increased costs for manufacturing. Experiments with materials novel to the braking industry viz. aluminum or ceramic discs have already been conducted.
Another prevailing trend is to incorporate more of electronics into the braking systems. Electro-hydraulic braking (EHB) and electro-mechanical braking (EMB), though still in their nascence, are some exemplars to the trend.
Forecasts suggest that by the end of 2012, the friction products and materials market in North America would be worth 7.7 billion in at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%. Although, these materials are used by other industries viz. aerospace and aircraft, the largest share in the market's total value would be that of automobiles.