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BRAKES |
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Most modern automobiles are equipped with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear wheels. When the brake pedal is depressed, The Power Brake Unit (l) drives a piston through the Master Cylinder (2), which acts as a reservoir for the brake system's hydraulic fluid. The piston forces higher fluid pressure through the Pressure Differential Switch (3), which balances braking force between the front and the rear. The increase in fluid pressure then travels along the steel Brake Lines (4) and flexible Brake Hose (5) to the Caliper Assembly (6) and the Wheel Cylinder (7). Here, the higher fluid pressure forces pistons against the metal backing of the vise-like Disc Brake Pads (8) and Brake Shoes (9). The disc brake pads are forced against the rotating Rotor (10) or Disc, using clamping action to slow down or stop the rotor from revolving. The brake shoes are forced outward against the inside surface
of the rotating Brake Drum (11). This frictional contact slows and then stops the rotation. After braking, Return Springs (12) return Brake Shoes to normal position. To compensate for shoe wear, the Self-Adjuster (13) maintains proper clearance between shoe and drum. Parking Brake Cables (14) pull the Brake Shoes against the Brake Drums, preventing the vehicle from moving.
1. Power Brake Unit
2. Master Cylinder
3. Pressure Differential Switch
4. Brake Lines
5. Brake Hose
6. Caliper Assembly
7. Wheel Cylinder
8. Brake Pads
9. Brake Shoes
10. Rotor
11. Brake Drum
12. Return Springs
13. Self-Adjuster
14. Parking Brake Cables
