BRAKING SYSTEM

Lesson outline
 Understanding the working principle of the
braking system and knowing all the components
which make the system.

 Types of the braking systems and how they

operate.
 Understanding the operation of the ABS.
 Introduction
What is a braking system?

 The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety

items.
 It is a combination of some interactive parts. It absorbs
energy from the moving part and slows down the vehicle
with the help of friction.
 Take into account the state of the road, other surfaces
grips better than others. Weather also affect the efficiency
and capacity of the braking system.
 Exercise caution when its snowing and raining.
Introduction…cont’d
Purpose of the Braking system
 To stop the vehicle within the smallest possible distance, and hence
this is done by converting the kinetic energy of the vehicle into heat
energy which is dissipated into the atmosphere.
 To aid in controlling the speed of the vehicle.
 To prevent the vehicle from moving when its stationary( handbrake).
Braking System overview
Types brake system in automobile
1. Mechanical brakes
2. Hydraulic brake
3. Air brakes

Mechanical Brakes
 They are used in hand brakes ( parking brakes). A lever is provided
near the driver seat and through steel wire connections it is connected
to brakes at the rear of the vehicle.
 When the hand brake is engaged, tension is created at the brakes and
the brake shoes holds the drum from rotating and hence the
movement of the vehicle is restricted, even if its parked in a slightly
inclined surface.
Hydraulic brakes
 These are brakes which are actuated by the hydraulic pressure of a
fluid.
 Brake fluid is used transfer pressure from the brake pedal to the
pads or shoe.
 Liquids are not compressible, that is pressure applied to liquid in a
closed system is transmitted by the liquid equally to every other part
of the system ( Pascal law).
 Advantages of the hydraulic system

 Equal braking effort to all the four wheels.

 Less rate of wear ( due to absence of joints compared to mechanical brakes)
 Force multiplication very easily achievable by just changing the side of the one piston
and the cylinder relative to other
 Increased mechanical advantage
 Simple in construction

Disadvantage of the hydraulic system :

 Even a slight leakage of air into the breaking system makes it useless.
 The brake shoes are liable to get ruined if the brake fluid leaks out.
Air brakes
 Air brake system consist of components like air compressor, air
reserve tank, check valves, safety valves’ etc.
 The working is very similar to the working of hydraulic brakes, the
key difference that mechanical force is transmitted to wheel ends
through air pressure, instead of fluid pressure.
 Air brakes are most preferred in heavy vehicles like heavy trucks
 BRAKE COMPONENTS
The major components are:
 The brake pedal
 Brake fluid and the brake fluid reservoir
 The power booster unit
 Brake master cylinder
 Brake slave cylinder
 The hydraulic brake lines
 The rear drum brakes
 The front brake disc
 Brake Pedal
 The brake pedal is a simple lever. The fulcrum is at the top of the pedal arm.
 The output force becomes the input to the power brake unit or the booster.
 Power brake unit (Booster)
 It is a force amplifier
 They can be hydraulic or vacuum operated
 The amount of assist available is directly proportional to the amount of
vacuum available.
Hydraulic brake lines
 High pressure lines, hoses flexible reinforced tubing connects the hydraulic
components of a braking system.
 The main requirements are that they must withstand pressure, mechanical
wear, take up little space, can with stand chemicals such as oil, fuels,
saltwater, and resistant to temperature fluctuations.

Brake fluid
 It is the medium in the hydraulic brake system for transferring
energy between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes.
 It performs additional functions in that it lubricates moving parts.
 It must be free to flow in low temperatures (down to -40
 It must exhibit a sufficient low viscosity so as to permit good brake
response.
 Master cylinder

 It converts the input force 9output from the booster into hydraulic pressure
Types of brake fluid
Disc brakes
Drum brakes