Factors Controlling Retardation

The Brake System:

Factors Controlling Retardation

The amount of retardation (slowing down) obtained by the braking system of a vehicle is affected by several factors. For wheel brakes used on today's motor vehicles, these factors are the pressure exerted on the braking surfaces (lining and drum), the weight carried on the wheel, the overall radius of the wheel (the distance from the center of the wheel to the outer tread of the tire), the radius of the brake drum, the amount of friction between the braking surfaces, and the amount of friction between the tire and the road.

The amount of friction between the tire and the road determines the amount of retardation that can be obtained by the application of the brakes. The things that affect the amount of friction between the tires and the road are the amount and type of tread in contact with the road surface and the type and condition of the road surface. There will be much less friction, and thus much less retardation, on wet or icy roads than on good dry roads.

Driver's Reaction Time

Another factor that affects the time and distance required to bring a vehicle to a stop is the driver's reaction time. Reaction time is the time required for the driver to move his/her foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal and apply the brakes. While the driver is thinking of applying the brakes and reacting to do so, the vehicle will move a certain distance. How far it will move depends on its speed.

Graph: Total Vehicle Stopping Distance Of An Average Vehicle

After the brakes are applied, the vehicle will travel an additional distance before it is brought to a stop. The total stopping distance of a vehicle is the total of the distance covered during the driver's reaction time and the distance during which the brakes are applied before the vehicle stops. This illustration shows the total stopping distance required at various vehicle speeds. This is assuming an average reaction time of three-quarters of a second and that good brakes are applied under the most favorable road conditions.

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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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