Brake pads in the car: what it is, types, features

Brake pads are an important part of the braking system of the car. On the axis of the wheel is put on the brake disk. It has the same rotational speed as the wheel. Brake pads are pads that, when the brake is applied, press against the disk on both sides and stop its rotation. This allows the vehicle to brake. That's why the quality of brake pads determines the safety of the car.

Design of brake pads

Brake pads are a metal plate with a friction lining, which is held on it by glue or rivets. Brake systems come in two types. In disk units, the pads are straight, pressing against the disk from the outside. In drum brake systems, they are arc-shaped, installed inside the drum and pressed against it from the inside during braking.

The device of brake pads includes additional elements:

• Springs or retainers that hold the position of the pad.
• A plate that reduces the noise of the pads when braking. It also absorbs the high temperature that arises from strong friction. This keeps the brake fluid from boiling. The plate consists of several layers of polymer material or metal. It can be glued to the pad or located separately.
• A wear sensor notifies you that the pads have worn out and need to be replaced.

Types of brake pads

The durability of brake pads is most influenced by the composition of the friction lining. There are many options for combining different materials: rubber, ceramics, resins, fibers, metals, etc. Each manufacturer has its own technology for making friction compound, and it is kept secret.

Brake pads are of these types depending on the materials:

• Semi-metallic pads contain 50% of thin steel fibers. They heat up less and do not deteriorate when wet. However, their durability decreases in cold weather. They have an optimum ratio of braking performance to durability. Due to metal oxidation, black marks remain on the disks.
• Non-metallic pads consist of 70-80% organics, the rest are metal components. They do not contain asbestos, and are considered more environmentally friendly. Their peculiarity is that at temperatures from 250 degrees their friction force decreases. For passenger cars, this is not critical.
• Ceramic pads are durable, do not wear out for a long time and do not damage the brake disk. They can withstand a high load, when wet, they work a little worse than metal models. They do not leave black marks on the disks.
• Organic pads are almost entirely composed of organic elements. Their metal content is low. They wear out quickly, dust, but do not spoil the brake disk. They are installed on cars in countries with strict control of metal content in brake pads.

It is desirable to use brake pads from the manufacturer of the car on which they are to be installed. However, you can also choose suitable models of other brands. The main thing is that their strength corresponds to the loads when braking the car.