Disc brakes are composed of five main components: the brake rotor, caliper, brake pads, hydraulic fluid line, and brake pedal. Each plays an important role in the function of disc brakes.
The brake rotor is a metal disc that sits inside the wheel. When the driver presses on the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid is sent to the caliper. The caliper squeezes the brake pads against the rotor. This action slows down or stops the rotation of the wheel.
The caliper is a housing that contains two pistons. One piston pushes while one pulls in order to grip and release the brake pads from the rotor. The hydraulic fluid line runs from the master cylinder (located under the hood) to each individual caliper. This system ensures that each wheel has an equal amount of pressure applied to it when braking.
Brake pads are made of a friction material that helpsstopthewheelfromrotatingbygrippingthebrakerotorwhenactivatedbythecaliperpistons.Hydraulicfluidismaintainedinthelinebetweenthemastercylinderandeachcaliperpistoninordertomaintainequalpressureat eachwheelandpreventbrakesquealor“fade”(whenthebrakepadshavebeenhottoomanytimesandhave lostsomeoftheirstoppingpower).
Thebrakepedalisconnectedtothemastercylinderunderthehoodofthevehicleviaacableorhydraulicline.Whena driverpressesthepedal,it pushesthesystematicfluidintothemastercylinderwhichthenissenttothecaliperseachwheeltoslow ordownthewheels’rotation