AutomobileBrakeSystemThebrakingsystemisthemostimportantsystemincars
Ifthebrakesfail,theresultcanbedisastrous
Brakesareactuallyenergyconversiondevices,whichconvertthekineticenergy(momentum)ofthevehicleintothermalenergy(heat)
Whensteppingonthebrakes,thedrivercommandsastoppingforcetentimesaspowerfulastheforcethatputsthecarinmotion
Thebrakingsystemcanexertthousandsofpoundsofpressureoneachofthefourbrakes
Twocompleteindependentbrakingsystemsareusedonthecar
Theyaretheservicebrakeandtheparkingbrake
Theservicebrakeactstoslow,stop,orholdthevehicleduringnormaldriving
Theyarefoot-operatedbythedriverdepressingandreleasingthebrakepedal
Theprimarypurposeofthebrakeistoholdthevehiclestationarywhileitisunattended
Theparkingbrakeismechanicallyoperatedbywhenaseparateparkingbrakefootpedalorhandleverisset