CDX/(ASE) “Braking” “Principles of Braking”

Acceleration

And increase in a vehicle speed

Air -Operated braking system

A braking system that uses compressed air operating on large diameter diaphragm to provide force to the brake assembly, also call air breaks.

(ABS) Anti-lock brake system

A safety measure for the breaking system that uses a computer to monitor the speed of which each wheel and control the hydraulic pressure to each wheel to prevent wheel lock-up.

Asbestos

A mineral with needle like fibers that can become embedded in long tissue and cause cancer.

Band Break

A breaking system that uses a metal band lined with friction material to clamp around the outside of the wheel or drum.

Brake Assist (BA)

An enchanced safety system built in to some ABS systems that anticipates a panic stop and applies maximum breaking force to slow the vehicle as quickly as possible.

Brake-By-Wire System

A Breaking system that uses no mechanical connection between the brake pedal and each brake unit. The system uses electrically actuated motors to apply brake force.

Brake Fade

The reduction in stopping power caused by a change in the brake system such as overheating, water, or overheated brake fluid.

Brake Petal Emulator

A brake pedal assembly used in electronically controlled breaking systems to send the drivers breaking intention to the computer; it mimics the feel of a standard brake petal.

Brakes

A system made up of hydraulic and mechanical components designed to slow or stop a vehicle.

Coefficient of Friction

The amount of friction between two moving surfaces in contact with each other.

Conservation of Energy

A physical law that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Deceleration

A decrease in a vehicle’s speed.

Disc Brakes

A type of brake system that focuses stationary brake pads against the outside of a rotating brake rotor.

Drum Brakes

A type of brake system that forces brake shoes against the inside of a brake drum.

Drum-Style Parking Brake

A mechanically operated drum brake that can be set while the vehicle is not moving to serve as a parking brake.

Electric Braking System

A braking system used to provide braking to trailers; the drum brakes are electrically activated in the trailer when the driver applies the brakes on the towing vehicle.

Exhaust Brake

A braking system that restricts the flow of exhaust gases through the engine by closing a butterfly valve located in the exhaust manifold. Restricting the exhaust flow causes the engine speed to slow down, slowing the vehicle.

Friction

The resistance created by surfaces in contact. Kinetic friction is resistance to motion when one surface moves over another. Static friction is resistance to motion between two surfaces that are not moving.

Fulcrum

The point around which a lever rotates and that supports the lever and the load.

Heat Fade

Brake fade caused by the build-up of heat in braking surfaces, which get so hot they cannot create any additional heat, leading to loss of friction.

Hydraulic Fade

Brake fade caused by boiling brake fluid.

Jake Brake

A brake system that consists of an extra exhaust valve on a diesel engine, which releases compressed gases from the combustion chamber at the top of the compression stroke; also called a compression brake.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of an object in motion; it increases by the square of the speed.

Lever

A tool that allows the user to move a large load over a small distance at one end by applying a small force over a greater distance from the other end.

Master Cylinder

Converts the brake pedal force into hydraulic pressure, which is then transmitted via brake lines and hoses to one or more pistons at each wheel brake unit.

Mechanical Advantage

The ratio of load and effort for any simple machine such as a lever.

Mechanical Disadvantage

When the load distance on a lever is greater than the effort required to move the load is greater than the load itself.

Newton’s First Law of Motion

A physical law that states “an object will stay at rest or uniform speed unless it is acted upon by an outside force”.

Parking Brake

A brake system used for holding the vehicle when it is stationary.

Parking Brake Cable

A mechanism used to transmit force from the parking brake actuating lever to the brake unit.

Regenerative Braking

Technology used in vehicles that allows the vehicle to recapture and store part of the vehicle’s kinetic energy in a reusable form when braking. Primarily used in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Rotational Force

The force created by the rotating wheel when the brakes are applied; it causes the brake components to twist the brake support and ultimately the vehicle in the direction of the wheel rotation.

Scrub Brakes

A brake system that uses leverage to force friction block against one or more wheels.

Service Brake

A brake system that is operated while the vehicle is moving to slow or stop the vehicle.

Top Hat Parking Brake

A drum brake that is located inside a disc brake rotor in order to act as a braking brake.

Transmission-Mounted Parking Brake

A drum brake that is mounted on the drive shaft just after the transmission to serve as a parking brake.

Water Fade

Brake fade caused by water-soaked brake linings.

Weight Transfer

Weight moving from one set of wheels to the other set of wheels during braking, acceleration, or cornering.