Brakes are among the most crucial components that ensure a car’s safety. The system of brakes works to create friction between moving components to slow down or stop a vehicle safely when required.
Due to the rigorous nature of operations, car brakes are prone to quick wear and tear. There are two sets of brakes in cars: one in the rear and one in front. The braking forces, working mechanism and certain components of front brakes vs rear brakes may vary. Let’s find out more about their key differences.
Front Brakes vs Rear Brakes: The Main Difference
The main difference between front and rear brakes is how they work. In most cars, the front brakes use a disc mechanism, which produces more stopping power and cools down quickly. Moreover, this is important because the front brakes do most of the work when you bring your car to a stop.
Similarly, rear brakes are usually equipped with a drum mechanism, which complements the overall power of front brakes to provide more stability. This mix of disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the back helps to safely stop your car.
Front Brakes
Disc Brakes: They are predominantly used for front brakes. They contain a brake disc (rotor) attached to the wheel and a brake calliper that houses brake pads. When brakes are applied, hydraulic fluid forces the calliper to press the brake pads against the disc. This creates friction and slows the vehicle.
Heat Dissipation: The front brakes handle more braking force and heat due to weight transfer during braking. For this reason, they dissipate more heat than the rear brakes. Disc brakes are designed for better heat dissipation, reducing the risk of brake fades. For heat dissipation, brake burnishing and cleaning are very important. These crucial brake maintenance processes prevent overheating. The heat dissipation risk remains the same for front brakes or rear brakes.
Components: The main component of disc brakes are brake rotors. They are vented to increase cooling efficiency. Then, brake pads are made from various materials, such as organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic. They are chosen for high friction and durability. The last part is callipers. They can be fixed or floating, affecting the number of pistons and pressure distribution.
Rear Brakes
Drum Brakes: The drum mechanism is common in rear brakes, especially in older or economy vehicles. It consists of a brake drum attached to the wheel and brake shoes inside the drum. When brakes are applied, hydraulic fluid forces the shoes outward against the drum. It creates friction and slows the vehicle.
Less Heat Dissipation: Rear brakes are subjected to less braking force and heat than front brakes. Therefore, drum brakes have less efficient heat dissipation than disc brakes but are enough for rear brake demands.
Components: Brake drums are the main component of rear brakes. The enclosed design is less exposed to elements, which can reduce maintenance costs. Furthermore, brake shoes and brake pads are made up of similar materials. It also contains wheel cylinders with pistons that push the brake shoes outward against the drum.
Braking Force Distribution Difference Between Front and Rear Brakes
The braking force of front vs rear brakes isn’t the same. It differs in myriad aspects. Let’s elaborate more on it.
Front Brakes
- Contribute almost 70-80% of the total braking force.
- Responsible for initial braking and weight transfer to the front wheels during harsh braking.
Rear Brakes
- Contribute the remaining 20-30% of the braking force.
- In modern vehicles, features like an Anti-lock braking system (ABS) and EBD System (Electronic brakeforce distribution) help front and rear brakes work together to provide more stopping force.
Maintenance Requirements: Front Brakes and Rear Brakes
Front Brakes
- Brake Pads: These are the contact points between the rotor and the calliper. They are present to reduce the friction between metal-to-metal contact. For this reason, they wear out quickly.
- Brake Rotors: They need replacement or resurfacing due to excess wear of harsh braking.
- Brake Lines: These lines can have brake fluid leaks or cracks for various reasons.
- Brake Fluid: Check and change as per the car’s user manual.
Rear Brakes
- Brake Pads: Rear brake pads last longer than the front ones but still require maintenance once in a while.
- Brake Drums: Rear brake drums last longer than brake rotors. But they still should be checked for wear.
- Wheel Cylinders: They should be checked for any leakage or sticking.
- Parking Brake Mechanism: It should be checked usually to avoid any mishaps.
FAQs
Are front and rear brake pads different?
Yes, front and rear brake pads differ. Disk brakes work with brake pads, while drum brakes work with brake shoes.
Are front brakes more expensive than rear?
Yes, replacing the front brakes is more expensive than replacing the rear due to the size difference and complexity of the brake mechanism.
What’s more important if we compare front brakes vs rear brakes?
Both have their own importance, but front brakes are considerably more important than rear because they provide 70-80% of the total stopping force.
How do I know when to change my front brakes?
If your brake’s efficiency has gone low and noises are coming while braking or car brakes become ineffective after driving, know it’s time to replace them.
Front and rear brakes have the same purpose but different working mechanisms. Front and rear brakes work collaboratively and complement each other. So, if the parking brake fails, the other brake can compensate for it.
Modern vehicles come with a bunch of brake assist features, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA), among others. If your car lacks these features, you can upgrade to a newer model. Check out these used cars for sale in the UAE and explore various cars featuring newer brake safety features.
For more useful insights about car brakes and other key components, keep reading dubizzle’s car blog. Safe Driving!
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