Drivers often overlook the functioning of individual car components until a failure occurs, compromising comfort and safety. Brake discs, crucial elements of the braking system, profoundly impact driver and passenger safety. To ensure their proper function and address key considerations, delve into this concise MILES brake disc guide.
Whether navigating a dry summer road or traversing a slick, ice-coated surface in winter, brake discs serve a singular purpose: bringing the vehicle to a swift halt. Given their pivotal role in the braking mechanism, they warrant meticulous inspection.
The braking process hinges on the interaction between the disc and the pad. Upon depressing the brake pedal, the hydraulic or electric system promptly engages, pressing the brake pads against the discs. In mere moments, the vehicle, along with its occupants and cargo, must come to a complete stop.
This entails the conversion of kinetic energy into heat at the interface of the pad and the disc, dissipating the accumulated energy through friction within seconds.
Kinetic energy = mass (car + you + your family + luggage + …) x (velocity)2
The energy exerted is directly proportional to mass but increases exponentially, squared, with the speed of the car. For instance, a car traveling at 140 km/h on the highway may possess nearly eight times the energy of the same car moving at the maximum speed within a built-up area.
At MILES, we mandate that our discs can withstand such formidable energies under any circumstances, including diverse weather conditions and various terrains. During downhill descents, we frequently apply the brake pedal numerous times within minutes, elevating disc and pad temperatures to 700°C, while still relying on the braking system’s steadfast performance. Consequently, prior to introducing our discs to the market, we subject them to rigorous laboratory testing to assess their functionality even under the most extreme conditions.
