The braking system is the most important system in cars. If the brakes fail, the result can be disastrous. Brakes are actually energy conversion devices, which convert the kinetic energy (momentum) of the vehicle into thermal energy (heat).When stepping on the brakes, the driver commands a stopping force ten times as powerful as the force that puts the car in motion. The braking system can exert thousands of pounds of pressure on each of the four brakes.
Two complete independent braking systems are used on the car. They are the service brake and the parking brake.
The service brake acts to slow, stop, or hold the vehicle during normal driving. They are foot-operated by the driver depressing and releasing the brake pedal. The primary purpose of the brake is to hold the vehicle stationary while it is unattended. The parking brake is mechanically operated by when a separate parking brake foot pedal or hand lever is set.
制動系統(tǒng)是汽車中最重要的系統(tǒng)。 如果制動失靈，結(jié)果可能是損失慘重的。制動器實際就是能量轉(zhuǎn)換裝置，它將汽車的動能（動量）轉(zhuǎn)化成熱能（熱量）。當(dāng)駕駛員踩下制動踏板，所產(chǎn)生的制動力是汽車運動時動力的10倍。制動系統(tǒng)能對四個剎車系統(tǒng)中的每個施加數(shù)千磅的力。
每輛汽車上使用兩個完全獨立的制動系統(tǒng)，即行車制動器和駐車制動器。
行車制動器起到減速、停車、或保持車輛正常行駛。制動器是由司機用腳踩、松制動器踏板來控制的。駐車制動器的主要作用就是當(dāng)車內(nèi)無人的時候，汽車能夠保持靜止。當(dāng)獨立的駐車制動器—踏板或手桿，被安裝時，駐車制動器就會被機械地操作。