Automotive Q & A

Knowledge Database - Brakes

Question: Disc Brakes - How do they Work

Answer: Your vehicle’s disc brakes are responsible for stopping your tires. Disc brakes consist of three main parts: the brake pads, the calipers, and the rotors. The caliper is in charge of squeezing the brake pads together to stop the rotor. The rotor is a circular metal disc that is connected to the tire’s hub. Each time you step on your brake pedal, the calipers are squeezed against the rotor. In order to stop your tires, the brake pads create the friction necessary to slow the speed of the rotary motion of the disc. The friction also converts the vehicle’s kinetic energy into heat energy, which is then vented out through the disc brake’s ventilation slots.

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