Disk Breaks

The disc brakes function pretty easily. You step on the brake pedal, and brake fluid is sent to a piston on the disc brake. The piston causes the calipers to squeeze the disc or rotor that spins the wheels. The pads inside the calipers create friction, which slows down your car.

Disc brakes were first used on race cars in 1951. In 1955, they started being addon to mass-produced cars. By the 1980s, most cars were using disc brakes, at least on the front wheels as their main braking system.

Brake booster. Today most vehicles have what’s called “power brakes.” Power brakes increase the force produced from your pressing on the pedal, which is applied to the rest of the braking system. That means you don’t have to press down on the brake pedal with too much effort to get your car to slow or stop. The brake booster is what makes power brakes, power brakes.