2. Hydraulic Principles
Fluids cannot be compressed
Fluids can transmit Movement
Master cylinder transmits fluid to
wheel cylinder.
Fluids can transmit and
increase force
3. Hydraulic pressure is
distributed equally in all
directions.
Same line pressure to
all wheels
5. piston hydraulic line
Brake
pedal
wheel
master cylinder
brake band
brake cylinder
brake piston return sprin
6. •Your foot pushes on the brake pedal.
•The break pedal pushes a piston (blue) into a master cylinder filled with hydraulic brake
fluid (red).
•The brake fluid squirts down a long, thin pipe until it reaches the slave cylinder at the
wheel.
•When the fluid enters the cylinder, it pushes the piston in the wider cylinder (blue) with
an increased force.
•The piston pushes the brake
pad (green) toward the brake
disc (grey).
•When the brake pad touches
the brake disc, friction
between the two generates
heat. friction slows down the
•The
outer wheel and tyre,
stopping the car.
7. •Air brake systems are bulky, and •Hydraulic systems are smaller and less
require air compressors and reservoir tanks. expensive.
•Air brakes, where a valve is opened and air •Hydraulic systems rely on a single stroke of a
flows into the lines and brake chambers until piston to force fluid through the system.
the pressure rises sufficiently.
•With innovations like anti-lock brake
•Compression problems with air brakes can systems, traction control, and electronic
cause delays in braking performance. stability control, hydraulic brakes have
become safe.
•Air Brakes have a longer stopping
distance. •Vehicles with hydraulic brakes have shorter
stopping which arguably makes them a safer
product.