The history of brakes is long. Over the decades, brake systems have been upgraded and changed many times to meet the new and demanding requirements of ever-evolving vehicles and road systems.
Industrial brake parts and systems can be slightly more complicated than your regular old car system, but the necessary components remain the same across the board.
If you’re looking to educate yourself on essential industrial brake parts, keep reading!
Industrial Brake Parts
Regardless of the type of brake system you have – industrial vs. standard, disk vs. drum – some components span the differences. Here’s a quick and easy break down of the individual parts that make up your industrial brake system:
The Brake Pedal
The pedal is the portion of the brake system that is located inside the vehicle.
When you apply the brake pedal, you activate the master cylinder.
The Master Cylinder
The master cylinder is a plunger. When you press the brake lever, you force brake fluid from the master cylinder into the brake line.
When you release the brake pedal, the cylinder deactivates and returns to simply storing brake fluid until you press the pedal again.
The Brake Lines
Your brake lines are usually made out of metal. They carry the brake fluid from the master cylinder down to your wheels.
The Rotors or Drums
Depending on whether your industrial equipment has disc or drum brakes, you will have either rotors or drums behind your wheels.
The rotors or drums are the part that the brake pad is one half of the friction interaction that stops your car. The brake pads rub against either the rotors or the drum to create enough friction to slow and stop your equipment.
The Brake Pads
The brake pads are the other side of the friction equation. The pads rub against the drums or rotors. They are made of composite materials, which gives them longevity over thousands of miles of driving.
The Wheel Cylinders
As the brake fluid flows into the wheel portion of the brake system, the wheel cylinders are filled with fluid. The fluid either squeezes the disc brake pads inward or pushes the drum brake pads apart, depending on your system.
As the pads are pushed together or apart, they rub against either the rotors or drums, causing the industrial equipment to stop.
Know Your Industrial Brake Parts
Although most industrial brake systems are either drum or disc brakes, other system types may have slightly more nuanced industrial brake parts. For instance, your crane may have storm or rail brakes.
Now that you know all the parts of your brake system, you can more easily describe maintenance issues or pick repair parts.
If you’re looking for more information on brake systems, or need to talk to a professional about repairs, contact us today!