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
Watching others whilst on the road
You can't rely on other road users not to do something wrong. Whilst most articles on this site tend to focus on cars, there are other and particularly vulnerable road uesrs out there. These...

How to help yourself stay safe whilst driving
It is a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless, that there are very rare occasions on which you can just get unlucky and be involved in an accident, whether minor or major, that you are powerful to do...

Regulations relating to stopping
When you are driving you may not necessarily think much about stopping and simply stop automatically when a light is on red. But infact knowing when you should stop on the road is very important...

What to expect at a hazard perception test
The test has fourteen different clips, as outlined in the article entitled 'how to pass the hazard perception test'. Each of those clips starts counting down from ten to zero, in order to...

The Advanced Driving Test
There are advantages to continuing to study driving by means of a course like the advanced driving test, because it will help to give you the chance to develop your skills even further than you had...

Maintaining your car
It is essential that you look after your car and keep it in good condition. Not only is this paramount for your safety and that of other road users, but also it means that the longevity of your car...

Road conditions: dealing with fog
Fogs and mists are much more common at some times of the year than others. Particularly in the mornings and in the Autumn time of the year, fog can be commonplace, but whenever it occurs it is...

Using emergency telephones
There are emergency telephones along motorways. There are telephones that occur roughly once per mile along the motorway which are connected to the emergency services. There are also blue and...

Risks when driving: bright or low sun
When the sun is low and bright, it can be very hard indeed to drive. This is because we may have to squint and the bright light can make it hard to pick out objects and to see, sometimes right in...

Driving and mobile phones
Some people are confused about the rules about using a mobile whilst driving, whilst others know the rules and break them. You might see other people driving with a phone to their ear but you...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions