If you've ever driven a car or any devise before, maybe an engine, you will realized that at the point you intend to stop or retard the device, you put all trust on the brake system and if it doesn't respond as expected, you can get some damages, maybe to the device, properties or even humans.
Brake system is responsible for retarding or bringing to stop of running devices or keeping a device in stationary position. They mostly make use of friction between two surfaces to convert kinetic energy of the moving device into heat energy or by the use of regenerative device to convert the kinetic energy to electrical energy.
> A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction.
> [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake)
There are several types of brakes in today's automobiles, but the three basic types of brakes are; service brakes, emergency brakes and parking brakes. These brakes are responsible for retarding, stopping and keeping the automobile in stationary position.
Many cars of today have disc brakes in front (due to it being more efficient) and drum brakes at the rear. The drum brake is a supportive brake while the disc break is the main brake.
[Source](https://www.google.com.ng/search?q=brake+system&safe=active&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwign5qOnODYAhUQZVAKHffrB8wQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=700#imgrc=XslACfBXpJlLDM:)
The Disc Break
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Disc brakes happen to be the best and most efficient brake found on motor vehicle currently. They are called disc brake because of the presence of a disc that turn with the wheel as the automobile moves. Disc brakes are more durable as the brake pad takes longer time to wear. Apart from durability, they are high water resistant, self cleaning, easily and self adjustable, they offer better braking force than any other braking system, bringing the automobile to a stop easily.
[Source](https://www.google.com.ng/search?q=disc+brake&safe=active&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjtjL-s_t_YAhUDKlAKHS1yDcwQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=700#imgrc=0DO940vPnLW7qM:)
The major components of the disc brake are; brake pads, rotor and Caliper.
The Drum Brake
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Drum brakes are less efficient than disc brake, they are use in the rear wheel. The drum brake has a hallow drum that rotate with wheel, therefore the name drum break. The main wheel for stopping a moving vehicle is the front wheel, so the drum brake serve as support brake. Drum brakes are used because of their cost, they are cheaper to produce than disc break, they can easily work with handbrake unlike disc brake where a separate mechanism is needed to attach the handbrake.
[Source](https://www.howacarworks.com/illustrations/drum-brake)
The major parts of the drum brake are the drum, the cylinder and the shoe.
> Drum brakes may fade if they are applied repeatedly within a short time - they heat up and lose their efficiency until they cool down again. Discs, with their more open construction, are much less prone to fading.
How Brakes Work (Both Disc and Drum Brake)
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To activate the brake, the brake pedal must be depressed, this caused the movement of a piston in the master cylinder due to applied pressure. The piston movement cause the brake fluid to move from the master cylinder to the calipers and wheel cylinders through the flexible hoses and brake lines. The braking force is directly proportional to the applied force in the brake pedal.
For a disc brake, the caliper contain some piston connected to the brake pad, the piston pushes the brake pad against the rotor when pressure is transmitted from the master cylinder, this causes the vehicle to retard or stop. While in a drum brake, the wheel cylinders contains pistons which are connected to the brake shoe, the piston pushes the brake shoe against the wall of the brake drum when pressure is transmitted from the master cylinder, this causes the vehicle to retard or stop.
[Source](https://www.thejusticelawyer.com/automotive-braking-systems.html)
> When pressure on the pedal is released, the pads and shoes return to their released positions. This action forces the brake fluid back through the flexible hose and tubing to the master cylinder.
> **NEVER PUT ANYTHING BUT APPROVED BRAKE FLUID IN YOUR BRAKES. ANYTHING ELSE CAN CAUSE SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE! Any other type of oil or other fluid will react with the brake fluid and very quickly destroy the rubber seals in the brake system causing brake failure.**
Causes of Brake Failure
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* **Lubrication on Brake;** The presence of lubrication such as grease and oil reduces friction in brake and leads to brake failure.
* **Development of Hot Spot In Brakes;** When there is overheating in brake the there is formation of hot (hard) spot on the rotor or drum of disc and drum brakes respectively. This hot spot act as resistance to friction, thereby causing the brake to fail.
* **Rust Parts;** Rust parts in the brake system can lead to failure as this can brake off any time and also malfunction in motion.
* **Low Air Pressure;** Air pressure is needed to activate the brake and its build up quickly. Low air pressure cause the pedal to drop to the floor easily and take time to build up, this will cause brake failure.
* **Brake Fluid Leakage;**The break fluid is responsible for pressure transmitting from brake pedal to the wheels. Leakage of brake fluid will cause reduction in brake pressure and therefore brake failure.
Prevention of Brake Failure
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**Things to watch for**
> Scraping or grinding noise coming from the brakes
Test of Brake fluid indicates a copper content of 200 ppm or greater indicating the need for a fluid replacement
Brake pedal feels soft or spongy when the brakes pedal is depressed
Vehicle pulls to one side when the brakes are applied
Brake fluid level in master cylinder low
Brake system Warning Lamp stays illuminated
**Ways Of Preventing Brake Failure**
* Replace all worn parts with new and original parts
* Check for possible leakage.
* Do regular maintenance by a certified mechanic.
* Allow car to cool after hard braking by parking for some minutes.
* Use lower gear on extended steep downhill slope instead of brake.
* Replace the brake pad as soon as there is a squeaks sound when brake is applied.
References; [1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake), [2](https://www.howacarworks.com/basics/how-the-braking-system-works), [3](http://www.carparts.com/brakes.htm), [4](https://www.thejusticelawyer.com/automotive-braking-systems.html), [5](http://motorist.org/articles/auto-braking-systems), [6](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/brake+system), [7](http://automedicsafrica.com/brake-failure/), [8](https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/brake-problems/brake-failure1.htm), [9](http://www.expresstransmissionstoledo.com/causes-of-brake-failure/), [10](https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwidn4upiN_YAhVCJJoKHTkHCWIQFghvMA0&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.howacarworks.com%2Fbasics%2Fhow-the-braking-system-works&usg=AOvVaw2hyeEoVlNfqRq91xoXJK3L), [11](https://www.overdriveonline.com/how-to-prevent-brake-failure/), [12](http://www.sonylin.net/car/how_to_prevent_brake_failure.php), [13](https://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/18/what-to-do-if-your-brakes-fail/)