The caliper is an important part of a vehicle's braking system. The safety of the car's movement largely depends on it. The main task of the device is to take on the load that is created when the brake disc is compressed. The brake pads are responsible for the transmission.
The brake caliper device consists of two elements. The first is a bracket that is fixed. It is attached to the trunnion. The second element is moving. Actually, it is called the caliper. The part is bolted to the bracket. He is also able to move horizontally.
Attention! Thanks to the caliper device, the pads can be released when the driver releases the brake pedal.
What is a brake caliper can be seen in the video below:
Features of calipers
Principle of operation
The operating principle of the brake caliper device is based on hydraulic system... It is thanks to her that the load is evenly distributed over the chassis. vehicle... The process is based on transformation of kinetic energy into heat.
Attention! The transformation is made possible by the fact that the wheels rub against the surface.
The closest analogue of calipers is drum brakes. But if we take into account the automotive trends of recent years, then every year they are less and less common in modern cars... This is because drum brakes are less efficient. Therefore, they break much more often than the device of the calipers, and they need repairs that require capital investment.
Indicative in this context will be the actions of car manufacturers that produce SUVs. They used to have drum brakes on the rear axle. But now even on independent suspensions calipers are installed due to the reliability of their device.
Advantages and disadvantages
The device of calipers has a number of advantages. The most significant ones include:
- effective braking;
- durability;
- relative simplicity of design;
- inexpensive service.
But, perhaps, the most important advantage against the background of modern trends in economy is the ease of arrangement of calipers. They weigh very little in comparison with their closest counterparts.
Unfortunately, the device of the calipers was not without its drawbacks. However, there are not many of them. Moreover, there is only one weighty thing worth paying attention to - this is openness. As a result, when water gets on the disc, the braking efficiency decreases.
Attention! Nevertheless, this drawback can be considered an advantage of the caliper device. The fact is that this design feature cools disc and pads.
If we take into account the reviews of motorists, then the brake caliper is practically eternal. The very same maintenance consists of simple replacement of pads and grease. In some cases, the cylinder also changes, but this happens very rarely.
Two branches of the development of calipers
It's hard to believe, but the first disc brakes appeared in 1890. And even then, they used a holder. He gripped the brake pads. Here are just opportunities to introduce technology into mass production then it was not. As a result, she was forgotten.
Over the years, it was used in the aviation industry. Combat aircraft were equipped with such a braking system. On cars, the technology was first applied in racing cars... The success was so great that soon they began to install brakes of this type on production cars.
Every year the technology received new incentives for development. It is not surprising that different concepts have emerged, diverging from each other in certain places. As a result, the calipers began to be made with a floating and fixed bracket.
The fixed system appeared earlier. This design is not particularly complex. It consists of two cylinders on the sides of the brake disc. The body of the structure is fixed on the fist. As soon as the driver presses the brake pedal, the pads fix the disc on both sides. In the diluted state, they are held by springs. They have an unusual shape. Through a branched system of pipes, brake fluid is supplied immediately to all cylinders. As a result, the efficiency of such a structure increases several times. Such systems are installed on vehicles with heavy weight, for example, Mercedes-Benz W463.
The floating design differs from the fixed design in that the shoe is fixed on only one side. The holder itself is based on a bracket and a cylinder, which is located on inside.
One or two pistons are installed in the cylinder. When the driver presses on the brake pedal, the piston presses on the pad. As a result, it begins to move and presses against the disc. The brace moves towards it, and already two pads fix the disc. This technology is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, but it is much less reliable. Therefore, it is rarely used in sports cars.
Outcome
Stopping support - a rather complex device that ensures a normal braking process even on high speeds... The technology is often used to create sports cars. In this case, a fixed system is installed, since it has greater reliability.
How to service the brake caliper can be found in the video:
The brake caliper is a part that is one of the most important parts of a motorcycle and any other vehicle with disc brakes. After all, this is exactly the part that presses the brake pads to the rotating at high speed brake discto stop its rotation and stop the wheel rotation accordingly.
In this article, more intended for beginners, I will try to describe everything (well, almost everything) that is connected with brake calipers, and if any important nuance I have already described in detail in another article, then of course I will not repeat myself, but simply put the appropriate link, by clicking on which the dear reader will get to my other article and there he will be able to get acquainted with the nuances of interest to him in more detail.
Brake caliper - device and purpose.
Caliper VAZ 2108 - 09 and its details: A - viewing window; B - bracket; 1 - body (bracket); 2 - connection for pumping (air release); 3 - anti-dust protective cap; 4 - brake hose; 5 - the body of the working cylinder; 6 - guide pin; 7 - locking plate; 8 - brake disc; 9 - brake pads; 10 - the body of the guide pin; 11 - brake disc casing; 12 - anther of the guide pin; 13 - finger nut.
A brake caliper is a part that on the most modern cars and motorcycles is made in the form of a caliper (if the pistons and working cylinders are located on each side of the caliper), which is installed on a vehicle with disc brakes.
Brake caliper and parts for modern motorcycle.
This caliper on modern cars and motorcycles, as it were, hugs the brake disc (from above and from both sides) in order to be able (when the driver presses the brake lever or pedal) to extend the pistons from the working cylinders of the caliper on both sides and develop enormous pressure of these pistons on the brake pads, which in turn press on the brake disc (from one or both sides of the disc, depending on the design of the caliper), thereby slowing down the rotation of the brake disc by friction of the friction material of the pads against the surface of the brake disc (up to a complete stop of the disc and wheel) ...
That is, in other words, the brake caliper is designed to slow down and stop the brake disc (s) and the wheels of the vehicle rigidly connected to it. The enormous pressure of the pistons on the brake pads and, in turn, the pressure of the pads on the disc, develops due to the pressure brake fluid in the hydraulic braking system of the vehicle. I described in detail how this happens in the article about the brake system device, the link to which is given at the very beginning of this article.
Six-piston fixed brake caliper and ventilated disc from the reputable Brembo company.
The device of the caliper is quite simple, if you carefully consider the picture or video above, which shows the caliper of a VAZ 2108 car, well, or see the picture just below, which shows the caliper of a modern motorcycle. The caliper itself (it is also called the working cylinder of the brake system) is cast from steel, cast iron, and on more modern or sports cars from aluminum alloys, and after casting the caliper body, the holes of the working cylinders are bored with special precision, ground and polished in it (the number of holes depends on the number of pistons).
Installed immediately two brake calipers on one disc.
The number of working cylinders in the calipers (and, accordingly, the number of pistons) on old cars was usually done one at a time, and on more modern cars the number of working cylinders and pistons working in them can be from two to six, and on sports cars more.
And brake calipers with a large number of pistons hug the brake disc by almost half, or to improve the efficiency of the brakes, they install not one, but two calipers on one brake disc (see photo on the right).
By the way, I wrote more about this in the article "Brake system tuning". It should also be noted that on more modern calipers from well-known reputable companies, pistons and pads are located on each side of the brake disc and, accordingly, press on the disc from opposite sides, which significantly increases the braking force and pressure uniformity (after all, pressure occurs on each side of the brake disc) and this of course increases the efficiency of the brakes.
As I mentioned above, some people call the brake caliper the brake slave cylinder, but still the real name is the caliper, since the slave cylinder can be in drum brakes (the cylinder serves to expand the pads and press them against the inner surface brake drum). But the slave cylinder in drum brakes is much simpler in design and significantly different in operation and appearance from the caliper described in this article that is fitted to disc brakes.
Brake caliper - what they are.
Calipers are of a fixed (rigid) type - on more expensive, high-speed or sports cars and motorcycles; and floating type - on more common and not expensive vehicles.
Multi-piston fixed caliper and disc from the reputable Brembo company.
Fixed caliper consists of a metal (or aluminum alloy) body and located symmetrically on both sides of the brake disc of workers brake cylinders and pistons inserted in them. The fixed caliper body is rigidly attached to the front (rear) suspension knuckle of the vehicle.
When you press the brake pedal, the piston in the master cylinder moves and presses on the brake fluid, which begins to press on the piston (pistons) in the caliper working cylinder and the piston, moving, presses on the brake pads, which are immediately pressed against the brake disc simultaneously from both sides.
To ensure instantaneous and simultaneous movement (extension) of the pistons, the brake fluid from the master cylinder using a branched pipeline system high pressure, simultaneously enters all the caliper cylinders, if there are several of them (the brake fluid pressure in all the caliper cylinders is the same - due to the physical phenomenon of communicating vessels).
Since in the design of a fixed brake caliper, several working cylinders and pistons are used at once, pressing on the kododki from both sides, moreover, pressing evenly on the pad with a rather large area, the fixed brakes have much more efficiency when braking. Fixed brake calipers are installed on sports high-speed cars and motorcycles, or vehicles that have a much higher curb weight. Fixed calipers are made by almost all reputable companies, for example TOKICO or Brembo (see photo).
Well, another advantage of fixed calipers is that they do not have constantly sour guide fingers and finger anthers, which means that there are fewer problems during operation and maintenance with them.
Floating type brake caliper (floating caliper)... Calipers of this type differ in design from fixed calipers in that in such calipers the piston and cylinder (one or two) are installed only on one side of the brake disc and, accordingly, the piston also presses on only one side, and on the other side there is a caliper stop intended for second block.
And so that both pads have the opportunity to press evenly from both sides, the caliper is made floating, that is, it has the ability to move slightly to the right and left along the guide pins 6 (see the photo above the VAZ 2108 - 09 caliper). Due to this, at the moment of braking, the piston extends and presses first on the block that is located in front of it, and this block first begins to press against the brake disc, and when it presses against it, the floating caliper begins to move along the guide pins towards the piston. And only after that the second (external) pad, located on the other side of the brake disc, starts to press against the brake disc.
The floating caliper has a modest size and is cheaper to manufacture (and is installed on more cheap cars with small diameters brake discs, for example, our eights, nines, golfs, etc.), since the number of pistons and cylinders in it is less (usually one or two, and not 4, 6 and even 8 cylinders and pistons installed on more expensive fixed calipers) ... Although it is still possible to argue with the dimensions, since floating calipers, even having only one cylinder and a piston, are not so small in size, since the diameters of the cylinders and pistons are quite large.
And the most modern fixed calipers are made not so large, since the pistons and cylinders are quite small in diameter, but there are more of them in number and the uniformity of pressure on the pads is better, and they are installed on brake discs of a much larger diameter.
It should be noted that there is more fuss with floating calipers during repairs, since often the fingers sour in their guide holes and the effectiveness of the brakes decreases (I will write about this in more detail below, in the section on faults).
The main malfunctions of the brake calipers.
The most common faults of almost any caliper (both fixed and floating) are: 
- swelling or cracking of rubber sealing cuffs, their wear and loss of elasticity.
- brake fluid leak (occurs due to the above malfunction).
- the ingress of air into the cylinders and the lines coming to them.
- souring guide pins and loss of caliper movement (only on floating calipers).
- souring of pistons in the working cylinders of the brake caliper and loss of piston mobility.
- loss of brake efficiency.
There are, of course, other malfunctions of the calipers and the entire brake system, but you can read more about them in the article on the device and the main malfunctions of the brakes (link to the article above, at the very beginning of the text). And in this article we will analyze the main malfunctions of the calipers listed above and how to deal with them.
Swelling of the sealing rubber cuffs can cause brake fluid to leak and air into the system. As a rule, this malfunction appears after, due to the use of low-quality (or because of mixing one brand of fluid with another), or vice versa - due to the use of low-quality sealing cuffs made of low-quality material (rubber).
Of course, this malfunction is eliminated only by replacing the swollen cuffs with new cuffs from a trusted reputable manufacturer, the same applies to brake fluid. If the problem is due to poor quality brake fluid, or due to its mixing, then before changing the fluid, it is necessary to drain the fluid and rinse all braking system isopropyl alcohol and then blow with compressed air.
Aging, wear and cracking of the seals it can also lead to leakage of brake fluid and, as a rule, occurs due to poor-quality material (rubber) of the cuffs, or simply from natural damage from prolonged use (or from a long parking lot). Naturally, this malfunction is eliminated by replacing the cuffs with new ones from a reputable manufacturer.
By the way, aging (cracking, edge wear and loss of elasticity) of rubber cuffs not only leads to a loss of tightness of the brake system and to the ingress of moisture and dirt on moving parts (brake fluid leakage), but also prevents the normal return of the piston in the cylinder - see picture ... This leads to incomplete release of the wheels, as well as to incomplete cleaning of the piston surface from dust, moisture and dirt - if the sharp edges of the cuffs (anthers) are worn out. Therefore, the rubber bands should be monitored and replaced in time with new ones.
How the cuffs and their edges work to push the piston back.
Have brake fluid leak occurs as a rule due to the above-listed problems with the rubber seals, but brake fluid leakage can also occur due to damage to the pipelines, or their threaded unions, or due to the re-use of copper O-rings, at the points where the pipelines are connected to the caliper. Eliminated by replacing unusable (damaged) parts with new ones.
Air ingress into the caliper cylinders or into the brake system (lines, master cylinder) is manifested by sluggish brakes (a significant decrease in their effectiveness) and usually occurs when the above malfunctions occur, which are eliminated by replacing worn out parts, adding brake fluid to the desired level and subsequent.
Slugging of the guide pins (bushings) of the brake calipers (on floating calipers) is manifested by a decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes, since when the caliper loses mobility on the guide pin, only one pad effectively presses on the brake disc (on one side).
Restoration of the caliper guide pin (pin before and after stripping and lubricating copper grease.
This malfunction most often occurs when damage occurs (cracking of the boot of 12 guide fingers - the boot is shown in the figure above, which shows the VAZ-2108-09 caliper device).
When the boot is damaged, moisture and dirt enters the gap between the finger and its guide hole, oxides appear, corrosion, the finger and its guide hole sour (see the photo of the finger before and after stripping and lubricating with copper grease) and the caliper's mobility decreases or disappears altogether.
Therefore, without waiting for damage to the anthers, when the first cracks appear on them, it is recommended to replace them with new ones.
How to check that everything is in order with the guide fingers (that they are not oxidized) and that the caliper moves normally, I advise you to look in the video below.
Brake Caliper Guide Pin Lubricant from Liqui Moly
Also, before assembling the caliper, it is recommended to lubricate the fingers with a special grease (for example, from Liqui Moly, as in the photo) based on copper dust, which protects the fingers and their guide holes from oxides (corrosion). I wrote in detail about these operations, as well as about the restoration of sour guide pins and caliper pistons, in the article "Repair of brake calipers" and I will publish a link to the article just below.
Souring pistons in the working cylinders of the caliper is manifested by a significant decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes, that is, an increase braking distance... This malfunction usually appears from the same banal damage to rubber bands (sealing cuffs) that are designed to protect pistons and cylinders from moisture and dirt on their surfaces.
In order to prevent this malfunction, which is not so easy to get rid of, it is necessary to periodically do the same as with the rubber bands (anthers) of the guide fingers. That is, you need to periodically inspect the rubber seals and, without waiting for their breaks, when the first cracks appear, change them to new ones. Believe me, replacing tired rubber bands is much easier than restoring a caliper damaged by corrosion.
But if, nevertheless, moisture has penetrated into the gaps between the parts (fingers and their guide holes and whether between pistons and cylinders) and you find souring of the pistons, then you should remove and disassemble the caliper as soon as possible, remove oxides (see the photo of the piston before and after stripping ) and restore the mobility of parts.
Caliper piston (plunger) before and after restoration work.
I wrote in great detail about the repair of brake calipers here in, where all the operations related to the restoration of moving parts of brake calipers are described step by step. I also advise you to read about the troubleshooting of brake discs and the repair of the main and working brake cylinders.
Well, the last point is loss of brake efficiency ... This malfunction can occur not only due to the defects described above with sealing cuffs, pistons and fingers, and from a leakage of the brake system (fluid leakage and air ingress into the system), but also from:
- significant wear of the friction material of the pads.
- significant wear of the brake disc surface.
- ingress of grease on the rubbing surfaces of the pads and brake discs.
- contact with brake fluid on rubbing surfaces.
- from overheating of the brakes.
- from a decrease in the flow area of \u200b\u200bthe brake lines (for example, a jammed or clogged brake pipe).
- from improper adjustment of the free travel of the brake pedal (usually incomplete release of the wheels).
I have already written in detail about all of the above faults (and others) and about their elimination in the article on the braking system of cars, the link to which is at the very beginning of the text (at the top). And of course, almost all of the above malfunctions are eliminated by identifying unusable parts and replacing worn-out parts with new ones.
That seems to be all that is connected with such an important part as a brake caliper and I hope this article will be useful for novice car owners or a lover of motorcycle equipment with disc brakes, success to all.
Disk systems began to come more and more actively, manufacturers had to look for a solution to one very urgent problem. The fact is that in disc pads it is necessary to ensure not the expansion of the pads, but, on the contrary, their compression. Consequently, the traditional design was unsuitable. However, the solution was found quickly enough. The first effective device, called the "rear brake caliper", appeared at the turn of the 50-60s of the last century. How does it work and what are the features of its maintenance and repair?
Schematic diagram of a car rear brake caliper
The systematic development of technologies for the production of disc machines has led to the fact that today the rear brake caliper can have two different basic design schemes:
- fixed;
- the design of the so-called "floating bracket".
The purpose of both schemes is identical. They allow you to turn the rear brake caliper into an active element that presses the pads against wheel rim... But each of the designs has its own characteristics.
Fixed brake caliper design
Such a caliper consists of a metal central block mounted on a special and working cylinders with pistons, symmetrically placed on both sides of the brake disc. In the idle state, the pads are held parallel to the disc by means of springs at some distance from it. When you press the pedal, which comes simultaneously through a complex system of hoses, it activates the pistons, which compress the pads.
This design scheme is considered the most effective for disk systems and is successfully used on cars with high engine power ratings. It is this rear brake caliper that is installed on most SUVs, cars executive class and sports cars.
Floating bracket mechanism
The fundamental structural difference of such a system from the traditional one is that one of the pads is always in a static position. The braking process is carried out as follows:
- when you press the pedal, the fluid exerts pressure on the piston of the brake cylinder;
- thanks to free running brackets, the piston of the rear brake caliper comes out of the cylinder body and presses on the second brake shoe;
- continuing its movement along special guides, the caliper presses the second brake pad to the disc.
This scheme is often used in various brands of passenger cars.
In particular, the rear brake caliper (Opel is no exception) most often has a “floating” design scheme.
The importance of a good caliper
It goes without saying that the trouble-free operation of this vehicle system directly affects the safety of the vehicle owner, passengers and other road users. Accordingly, the state of these elements requires increased attention to oneself. At the first signs of malfunctions in the work of the calipers, you must immediately contact a highly qualified specialist car service or service station!
The most common malfunctions
The most common types of malfunctions to which the rear brake caliper is susceptible are the following:
- Sludge and corrosion of the piston. As a result, the pressure of the brake fluid when the brake pedal is depressed is insufficient to drive the piston.
- Leaking sealing cuffs. This leads to insufficient clamping of the pads. In addition, air can enter the system, which will lead to insufficient braking of all wheels of the car.
- Failure of the anther. In this case, dust and dirt accumulates between the piston and the cylinder, which leads to a difficult piston stroke, as well as to fluid losses.
- Damage to the movable bracket or insufficient tightening. One of the most dangerous breakdowns. If, for example, the rear right brake caliper is damaged by the caliper, then with sudden braking it can simply fall off. The liquid will immediately spill out, which will inevitably lead to system failure on the remaining wheels.
Thus, careful control of the correct operation of the calipers is dictated by elementary considerations of common sense, personal safety and self-preservation instinct.
Professional diagnostics
Most effective way avoiding the problems listed above is professional diagnostics performed by highly qualified specialists using specialized tools and equipment. The diagnostic process includes, as a rule, two stages of work:
- Checking the effectiveness of the brake on each wheel. It is carried out at a special computer stand under the supervision of qualified experts.
- Visual inspection of the calipers. This operation involves the need to remove rear wheels... The condition of the brackets, body, cylinders and anthers is checked. If damage is found, parts must be replaced immediately.
Self-diagnosis
If it is impossible to conduct professional diagnostics the rear brake caliper (left or right - not the point) can be checked independently. True, the results of such an event may be approximate, which means that you will not identify the problem in a timely manner.
Nevertheless, checking the correct operation of the rear wheel brake system is carried out as follows:
- a flat section of the road with good coverage and with the lowest possible traffic intensity;
- the car accelerates to a speed of 30 km / h;
- when the specified speed is reached, the clutch is squeezed out (or the neutral mode on the automatic transmission is turned on), and the brake pedal is sharply pressed into the floor.
If the car maintains directional stability, then the system is in order. If it starts to drift, then this often indicates a malfunction of the caliper. Determining which side of the rear brake caliper is faulty is quite easy. The car is always "led away" in the opposite direction.
Repair and replacement
It is strongly recommended to entrust both diagnostic work and repair of brake calipers to highly qualified specialists. In addition to the fact that they possess all the necessary in-depth theoretical knowledge and rich practical experience, they also have a wide arsenal of specialized tools and equipment at their disposal.
As a rule, repairing a rear brake stupor includes replacing anthers and cuffs, adding brake fluid and strengthening the fastening of all structural elements. But this is the so-called maintenance, which the car enthusiast himself can handle. But cracks on the bracket or on the body of the working cylinder, damage to the guides, deformation of the pistons require specialist intervention.
Depending on the manufacturer and model of the car, the repair of rear wheel disc brake calipers may have differences and certain nuances that should be remembered. So, for example, the rear brake caliper "Lacetti" differs significantly from a similar unit installed, say, on a car, both in terms of its design, principle, and arrangement of parts. Toyota Land Cruiser. And since the correct and trouble-free operation of this system is a vital factor for any vehicle, servicing and repairing a rear brake caliper requires a high degree of training and appropriate qualifications.
Dismantling and replacing parts with your own hands
However, if there is an urgent need to replace the rear brake caliper, you can also on their own... To do this, you will need to do the following:
- under the front wheels you need to install wheel chocks building bricks or other items);
- after which, using a jack, you should raise the rear of the car;
- for safety reasons, it will be necessary to substitute stops under the rear of the car;
- after which you can dismantle the corresponding wheel;
- then disconnect the drive (if any);
- remove the protective caps from the guides;
- unscrewing the guides with a hexagon, carefully remove the caliper.
An important point. If you need to completely remove the part, you will probably need to disconnect the brake hose. In order to prevent leakage of liquid, you should have a piece of rubber, cellophane or a thick rag on hand to plug the hole in the hose. We must not forget about the need to connect it after installing a new element. Otherwise, the system will not work.
Frequency of prevention and repair
The modern brake caliper is quite durable and reliable device, failing and receiving serious damage is relatively rare. However, for safety reasons, it is recommended that this critical unit be diagnosed at least every 6 months. And it is best to entrust this type of work to qualified professionals. This, of course, will entail certain financial costs, but in return it guarantees safety and can even save human lives!
So, we found out how the brake caliper of a car works and how it can be diagnosed on our own. Good luck!
Is one of its key mechanisms. It consists of a chain of several devices and mechanisms. One of these nodes is the topic of this material.
So, let's get acquainted, what is a caliper in a car and how does it work?
The caliper, as noted earlier, is an element of the braking system. He is in charge of maintaining brake pad in the disc braking system and ensures their linear movement, as well as pressing against the brake disc. Generally, this device provides braking force that stops the vehicle wheel.
The device and principle of operation of the brake caliper.
The brake caliper consists of a metal cast frame, in the grooves of which the brake pads move. The second important element of the caliper is the brake cylinder, where, under the action of hydraulic forces, the piston is extended, pressing the pads against the brake disc. In calipers modern cars, depending on the required braking force, there may be one or more of these cylinders.
This unit is attached to the wheel suspension system element in such a way that the caliper wraps around the brake disc on both sides. This ensures a distributed force on both sides of the brake disc by the brake pads.
The brake fluid is supplied through flexible or rigid hoses from the brake master cylinder to the caliper slave cylinder, which is fixed on movable guides with a fixed caliper frame, which ensures uniform displacement during the operation of the brake system.
Maintenance of the brake calipers is carried out by cleaning it, inspecting it for the integrity of metal and rubber parts when. If there is a leakage of brake fluid, the rubber seals of the brake cylinder are replaced.
In conclusion, a little history of appearance this mechanism... This disc braking system based on a brake disc and a caliper was originally invented by William Lanchester and patented at the beginning of the last century. However, it did not become widespread in those days on cars of that era. Car designers remembered Lanchester's invention only in the second half of the 50s of the twentieth century.
Video.
Today we will take a closer look and find out what a caliper is in a car and what it is for. Caliper - car system, with the help of which smooth braking of the vehicle during its movement is ensured. Recently, in connection with a significant increase in the speed capabilities of modern cars, special attention has been paid to the braking system, because it is one of the main systems responsible for the safety of the driver and passengers.
You need to understand that the caliper, in connection with various modern modifications, the use of the latest materials, approaches and equipment, is the most developing vehicle system today.
Basic device and principle of operation of the caliper
To begin with, it is necessary to recall the two main directions of development of modern calipers - with a floating bracket and with the use of a fixed structure.
The historically fixed structure appeared earlier. The principle of operation of this design is quite simple - on both sides of the brake disc there were two cylinders enclosed in a special metal case. The body itself was rigidly attached to the front, or rear suspension vehicle.
When the braking mechanism was started, the pads with the help of the cylinders began to press evenly from both sides to the brake disc. To avoid arbitrary pressure during movement, the pads were held at a distance from the brake disc by specially made springs.
The simultaneous actuation of the cylinder is ensured by a uniform supply of brake fluid using a specially branched system of pipes. Considering that the system closes on the actuation of several cylinders simultaneously, its efficiency turns out to be at a fairly high level. Typically such systems are used in heavy and sports cars.
A distinctive feature of the floating bracket is a slightly modified braking principle of the vehicle. Initially, the brake pistons on one side of the brake disc are triggered and literally begin to push the brake disc towards the pads on the other side. This ensures smoother braking.
Considering that the mechanism for braking in this case is required on the one hand, such systems are smaller, easier to maintain, cheaper and more practical to operate. They are very widely used in structures inexpensive cars with small dimensions.
The operation of the device can be described by the following algorithm:
- after pressing the brake lever, the brake fluid begins to flow into the caliper cylinders;
- the cylinders begin to press the brake pads against a special brake disc (depending on the system, it is located one-sided or on both sides);
- due to the occurrence of friction and resistance, the transport begins to slow down (until it stops).
A little about improving the performance of the caliper
In order for the brake system to serve for a long time and without interruption, you should adhere to some simple rules maintenance of such a system, on which its performance directly depends.
Primarily:
- periodically (once a month) carry out a visual inspection of the brake system for the detection of a possible leakage of brake fluid, and also pay attention to the connecting elements (hoses) of the working piston of the cylinder and the elements of the caliper;
- at least every two years to carry out full replacement brake fluid. It must be understood that this liquid has the ability to absorb moisture present in the atmosphere, thereby losing its original properties. Water in the brake fluid contributes to the formation of corrosion and also a decrease in the level of adhesion;
- monitor the level of wear of the brake pads. Almost all systems of modern cars have sensors that notify the vehicle owner about the condition of the brake pads. During the replacement process, it is advisable to monitor the degree of wear of each pad. If it is uneven, this is a signal to adjust a certain part of the caliper.
You need to understand that ignoring these simple rules can cause you to lose control of the vehicle when you least want it, and even worse, cause an accident.
You should also remember if you are increasing the power of your " iron horse»In the process of modernization, the braking system should be replaced with a more powerful and modern one. This is done by increasing the number of brake cylinders, changing the braking system, installing more powerful brake discs.
