Principles Of Braking

The Brake System
Principles Of Braking

Brakes on early motor vehicles were nothing more than modified wagon brakes used on horse-drawn wagons.These were a hand-operated, mechanical, lever-type brakes that forced a piece of wood against one or more of the wheels. This caused friction or a drag on the wheel or wheels.

There is also friction between the wheel and ground that tries to prevent the wheel from sliding or skidding on the ground. When a vehicle is moving, there is a third force present. This force is known as kinetic energy. This is the name given the force that tries to keep any object in motion once it has started moving.

When the brakes are applied, the wheel will either roll or skid, depending on which is greater, the friction between the braking surfaces or between the wheel and the road. Maximum retardation (slowing down) is reached when friction between the brake surfaces is just enough to almost lock the wheel. At this time, friction between the brake surfaces and wheel and road are almost the same. This is all the friction that can be used in retarding (slowing down) the motion of the vehicle. The amount of friction between the road and the wheel is what limits braking. Should friction between the braking surfaces go beyond this, the braking surfaces will lock and the wheels will skid.

When a wheel rolls along a road, there is no movement between (relative motion) the wheel and road at the point where the wheel touches the road. This is because the wheel rolls on the road surface; but, when a wheel skids, it slides over the surface of the road, and there is relative motion because the wheel is not turning while moving over the road. When a wheel skids, friction is reduced, which decreases the braking effect. However, brakes are made so that the vehicle operator is able to lock the wheels if enough force to the brake lever or pedal is applied.

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Article Pages
1. The Brake System
2. Introduction
3. Principles Of Braking
4. Braking Requirements
5. Factors Controlling Retardation
6. External-Contracting And Internal-Expanding Brakes
7. Brake Types
8. Brake Drum Construction
9. Brake Shoes
10. Rotating And Non-Rotating Units
11. Self-Energizing Action
12. Disc Brake
13. Comparing Disc And Drum Brakes
14. Floating Caliper
15. Fixed Caliper
16. Hydraulic Brakes
17. Master Cylinder
18. Wheel Cylinder
19. Hydraulic Brake System Insepction
20. Before Road Test Inspection
21. Road Test Inspection
22. After Road Test Inspection
23. Air-Hydraulic Brake System
24. Air-Hydraulic Master Cylinder
25. Air-Hydraulic Cylinder
26. Air Compressor
27. Air Governor
28. Air-Hydraulic Brake System Components
29. Trailer Coupling Hoses And Connectors
30. Air-Over Hydraulic Cylinder
31. Operation Of Air-Hydraulic Brakes
32. Air-Hydraulic Brakes Of Large Trucks
33. Trailer Air-Over-Hydraulic Brake Systems
34. Air-Hydraulic Brake System Inspection
35. Before Road Test Inspection
36. Air-Hydraulic Brake System Road Inspection
37. Trouble Shooting Air-Hydraulic Brakes
38. Air-Brake System
39. Air-Brake Quick Release Valve
40. Air-Brake Relay Valve
41. Air-Brake Chamber
42. Air-Brake Slack Adjuster
43. Air-Brake Auxiliary Components
44. Semi-Trailer Air Brake Systems
45. Operation Of Straight Air-Brake System
46. Miscellaneous Air-Brake Components
47. Troubleshooting Straight Air Brake Systems

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