In the history of humans, the discovery of wheels is considered one of the most important inventions that changed the world. The second most significant invention would be the invention of Brake Pads, as, with one, it is possible to reach safely anywhere.
It would be similar to the rockets in how a new one has to be assembled every time one has to reach space. In the 21st century, we take many modern innovations for granted, and one would include the brake pads in your car as one of them.
Let’s learn about Brake Pads, how they operate and how they are a crucial component in bringing your car to the A-level status.
What is a Brake Pad?
While the technology and engineering behind the brake pads are relatively simple, the fundamentals of a brake pad are pretty simple. It is a piece of steel flatly laid with a thick friction material on the side. Once they come in contact with the brake rotor, the friction energy gets converted into thermal energy in heat and friction.
The influx of such a high amount of friction and the cut off of engine power leads to the car slowing down immediately, coming to a complete standstill if the conditions remain. It is an essential braking system component and requires consistent attention and care from the car owner.
How Does The Brake Pad Operate?
You have now learned the founding principle of brake pads, but let’s get into the technical details to understand the mechanical process better.
Here is the journey of what all happens during the braking process-
The driver puts down the pressure on the brakes.
A signal is sent to increase the hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder.
Brakes and other elements are well-oiled for smoothness; brake fluid is transferred through the brake lines to the callipers.
The brake callipers fundamentally house the brake pads and convert the hydraulic pressure into mechanical force.
The calliper pistons extend due to the increased pressure.
Finally, the clamp gets extended to the Brake rotors to bring kinetic pressure to stop the rotors.
The process is incredible, touching hydromechanics, physics and pure material engineering to withstand insane pressures. It is essential to understand this process because as we go along the journey, one will learn how much efficiency breaking power one can get by further improving the breaking pad.
Different Types Of Materials Used In The Braking Pad
No breaking pad is the same, as there are various tiers to improve the braking capacity and get high-performance braking for high-speed driving. The faster and more immediate your braking is, the better you can drive faster and efficiently take turns on curvy corners.
Let’s break down the various tier list for the breaking pads that can be installed or replaced in their cars-
Organic materials– These brake pads tend to be the cheapest in the market, and they tend to be softer than other metallic, carbon-type brakes. Previously, they used to be made of asbestos. Still, they are made of various other materials like Kevlar, rubber, fibreglass and organic compounds, all sticking together with resin.
The general benefits are they are cheaper and are pretty light on the brake rotors compared to other pads. The negative qualities of these brake pads are that they generate a lot of dust and tend to wear out very quickly.
Semi-metallic materials– These brakes are more of a composite alloy, and the mixture can comprise materials like iron, copper, and steel wool. The pads significantly benefit from alloys and bring in a new level of durability, high-temperature resistance and breaking.
They are a huge step up from the organic brake pads and operate reasonably well in low temperatures. Their downsides tend to be a lot of dust and harsh on the rotors themselves.
Fully metallic materials– These brake pads are advantageous for performance scenarios. Car enthusiasts with a passion for racing at high speeds and professional race cars prefer these brake pads for performance. Many of these types of variants of brakes skip on any synthetic material altogether for maximum friction.
The downside can be that they generate a lot of noise, and one will need to check on the brake rotors for wear consistently.
Ceramic materials– The ceramic brake pads are often considered the most superior out of all the options as they effortlessly balance durability and performance. These brake pads are made of ceramic and mix in other materials such as copper metallic fibre to enhance their durability.
They are quiet, low dust, and last longer than most brake pads. Furthermore, there is a lot of focus on ensuring that the disk rotors get preserved for extended periods.
The system’s weakness is that its weather resistance is relatively low and can cost quite a price for its all-rounded nature.
One can decide between the four options depending on how harshly one will drive their car and the high-pressure scenarios the vehicle will be put into ...[Continue reading]