How Does Brake Pads Work?

Brake pads are designed to absorb heat as they create friction against the brake rotor. The brake pads ride against either side of the brake rotor and are held in place by the brake caliper that is typically mounted to the spindle or backing plate. Hydraulic pressure is provided by the brake system via a brake master cylinder. When the brake system is activated the brake pads are forced against the brake rotor causing it to slow down, in turn slowing the motion of the car. Heat is created and dissipated through the brake pad and rotor. If a bake pad or rotor become overheated it can hinder the brake operation until cooled.
Unlike the shoes on a drum brake which convert motion into heat, pads on a disc brake literally hug the wheel. The amount of pressure a driver applies to the brake pedal is a relative amount of force that will be applied to the brake pads. This means that the driver can feel how much pressure he is applying to the brakes. The driver may also apply a pumping motion to allow a car to slow down without losing control of the vehicle, all thanks to the relative force that is applied to disc brake pads. Most of the pressure is placed on the front brakes when stopping a vehicle, though drum brakes may be applied to the rear wheels for parking purposes.
Brake pads are designed to withstand the amount of pressure provided by the master cylinder. While the backing plates of all brake pads are made of metal there are several different classifications of the brake composite, for example; organic, semi metallic and ceramic to name a few. The organic pad is used mainly for stock applications, the semi metallic is used for trucks and SUV's while the ceramic pad is used for race and extreme conditions. Each of these pads possess individual wear and usage characteristics, for example; organic pads are the most forgiving pad when it comes to brake rotor wear, and tend to make less brake noise such as squeaking.Semi metallic pads tend to be more abusive to the rotors but can take more heat before brake fade occurs. Ceramic pads are the hardest pad of the group and will wear out the rotors over the life of the brake pad. Ceramic pads can also be associated with brake pad producing noises like squeaking, grumbling and other undesirable noises. The advantage of the ceramic pads is the lifespan of the brake pad set is about 25% longer than a regular brake pad. Every brake pad manufacturer has their own mixture of composite material that can vary in cost and quality. This material is bonded or riveted to the metal backing plate that is fitted into the brake caliper.
Car wheels have ceramic or cast iron discs mounted directly onto the wheel or the axle. These solid discs sandwich the wheel when a driver applies pressure to the brake pedal in an automobile. The pressure against the discs comes from mechanical force pushing a pair of calipers. Each caliper has a brake pad. The pads are what actually cause the friction, but also recover quickly from water, as well as resist overheating. Each brake unit is connected through pipes or tubes to the master cylinder. This is where the plunger is located. The plunger is connected directly to the brake pedal that the driver steps on to stop the car. Brake fluid gets forced through the pipes and tubes to the calipers as a result of the pressure being applied to the brake pedal.


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