Brake Rotors and Drums
Disc Brakes
- Components: Rotor, brake pads, and caliper.
- Function:
- The rotor is attached to the wheel hub.
- The brake pads, housed in the caliper, apply friction to the rotor when the brake pedal is pressed.
- Hydraulic pressure from brake fluid pushes pistons inside the caliper to engage the brake pads, stopping the vehicle.
Drum Brakes
- Components: Drum and brake shoes.
- Function: Instead of a rotor, a drum is used, with brake shoes pressing outward against its inner surface to create stopping force.
Modern Vehicle Trends
- Most new vehicles are equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels or a combination of disc brakes (front) and drum brakes (rear) for cost and efficiency balance.
- Wear and Resurfacing:
- Rotors naturally wear down from friction.
- Resurfacing can extend rotor life by removing surface imperfections, but repeated resurfacing makes rotors thinner.
- Thinner rotors may overheat or warp, reducing braking performance.
- Replacement:
- Replace rotors when they are too thin or damaged, as per the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
