Different Types of Vehicle Brakes

There are numerous types of brakes you get in vehicles these days. There are more than 10 types of brakes but to make it easier we will categorize them in 4 major categories, air brakes, disc brakes, vacuum brakes and drum brakes. These are the four major types of brakes out of which disc brakes are the most popular ones today. Because of their ability to stopping the car or vehicle more effectively, they are considered best especially by racers. But, because disc brakes are expensive therefore most of the vehicles are equipped with wheel brakes.

Wheel brakes:

Wheel brakes are the most commonly used brakes today. You can find them in bikes, cars, planes, and many other types of machinery that move on wheels. These brakes have a very simple mechanism; they use resistance to make the vehicle stop through friction. Wheel brakes work through brakes shoes. When these brake shoes are pressed it makes the wheel stopped using friction energy.

Disc brakes:

Disc brakes, as said earlier are the best types of brakes and they have the longest life. They are known as disc brakes because they use a disc which is fitted behind the wheel. When the brake shoe is pressed this disc is squeezed against the wheel making it stop. It uses friction energy to make this happen. The disc of a disc brake is a big, round and hefty piece of iron therefore it can last for more than 3 decades. Disc brakes are extremely popular because of being more effective than other brake types and because of lasting for long.

Vacuum brakes:

Vacuum brakes are not usually used for cars and bikes, they are usually used in trains. They are old school brakes that use a brake cylinder as its main component. It works by forming air pressure in the brake cylinder which has a piston that uses the energy of incoming air to move the brake shoes through a rod.  Al this is done by pressing the brake pedal. These brakes take a bit of time compared to wheel brakes and disc brakes to show their effect. This is the major reasons why trains take time to stop after the brakes are pressed.

Drum Brakes:

Drum brakes are more or less like vacuum brakes. The only difference between drum brakes and vacuum brakes is that drum brakes utilize oil pressure whereas vacuum brakes use air pressure.

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