Types of brakes and braking system

The brakes on your car are one of the most important elements of the car, and when you learn the ABC of accelerator, brake and clutch you realise if you hadn't already how to standardly operate the brakes. And you will also learn about the hand brake, and when to use it and when to release it.

A braking system has two ways of being operated so that if one stops working then other is able to stop the car, in order to help ensure safety. And they are also independent of the engine, meaning that if the enegine is not running the brakes still function.

A drum brake is one of the two types of braking system and this describes one that rotates with the wheel and contains brake shoes that have friction linings. Disc brakes in contrast work more like the brakes that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has ever ridden a push bicycle.

As mechanical objects, there is always the possibility that brakes can fail and since they are so important it is necessary to test them as soon as you drive your car just to ensure that they are functioning correctly, you don't want to only find out at a higher speed that there is a problem with them.

Related Articles...

driving theory test
What time of day should I book my driving test?
This is entirely up to you and so there is no right or wrong answer to this. Many of us function either better in the morning or in the afternoon. If you are a morning person then you will...

Typical brake faults outlined
The brakes are a mechanical object and so it is possible that they will develop problems and not function the way that they should be. This is clearly very dangerous because brakes are one of the...

The automatic transmission explained
Whilst the automatic transmission system is very clever, you still need to have some control over it, and this is where the selector lever comes into play, which is in the place that you would have...

Oil in your car and oil pressure
Oil is not something that you might think is essential to the operation of a car, but infact it is. Oil acts as a lubricant for the moving parts such as the moving parts of the engine, and it is...

Vehicles that cannot be used for a practical test
The vast majority of drivers will of course use the vehicle of their instructor or driving school when they take their practical test and so will not need to worry about the vehicle. However...

Tips on joining a motorway
Joining and leaving the motorway are generally considered the more tricky elements of the journey. When it comes to leaving the motorway, it is all about selecting the right exit and moving over to...

The New Drivers Act
The New Drivers Act is legislation that applies to those who have just passed their test and are categorised as new drivers, which in this legal definition refers to the first two years of passing...

Car Driving Theory Topics
When studying for the car theory test it is important to understand the types of topics that will be covered. The theory test is there to satisfy European Community regulations and so the...

The risk of accidents - some statistics
No-one wants to think that they will be involved in an accident, but being aware that an accident could happen to you and the statistics is important. Accidents happen to ordinary people, so anyone...

What to do at a box junction
The box junction is quite common but despite this there are a whole wide range of ways in which different drivers interpret what they are supposed to do at them so you will see different behaviours...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions