Disc Brakes
A braking system that uses calipers to pinch pairs of pads against a disc or 'rotor' to create friction that slows the vehicle.
Disc brakes are the most common type of braking system found on modern vehicles, typically installed on the front wheels and often on all four wheels. The system consists of a brake rotor (disc) that rotates with the wheel, a brake caliper that houses the brake pads, and a hydraulic system that activates the caliper.
When the driver depresses the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid pressure from the master cylinder forces the pistons inside the caliper to press the friction-lined brake pads against both sides of the spinning rotor. The resulting friction converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into heat, slowing or stopping the vehicle.
Disc brakes are highly efficient at dissipating heat, which makes them far less susceptible to 'brake fade' (a loss of braking power due to heat buildup) compared to older drum brake designs. They also perform much better in wet conditions because centrifugal force slings water off the flat rotor surface.
Maintaining disc brakes involves periodically inspecting the thickness of the brake pads and the condition of the rotors. Worn pads must be replaced before the friction material is gone, which would result in metal-on-metal contact and damage the rotors.