What is the rear brake caliper of a car
The brake caliper is a core component of the automotive braking system and belongs to the chassis braking parts. It achieves deceleration or stopping by pushing the brake pads against the brake drums. It is divided into two types: air brakes and hydraulic brakes. The air brake system is composed of components such as an air compressor, air tank, master cylinder and slave cylinder, and is mostly used in heavy-duty trucks. The hydro-hydraulic braking system consists of a hydraulic brake pump and an oil tank, and is commonly found in small passenger cars, buses and other vehicle models.
The working principle of the brake caliper in a small passenger car is that when the pedal is depressed, the brake master cylinder presses hydraulic oil into the caliper to push the piston. When the pedal is released, the hydraulic oil flows back to the master cylinder. The truck is equipped with an air braking system. The engine drives the air pump to compress air into the air storage tank. When the pedal is depressed, the high-pressure gas controls the front and rear wheel pumps respectively through the relay valve and the quick-release valve. The brake calipers used in public transport vehicles belong to the chassis brake components in the spare parts stored on behalf of others, and are included in the procurement list along with disc brakes, valves, etc.
The rear brake caliper of a car is a key actuating component in the braking system. Its core function is to convert the hydraulic pressure generated when the driver steps on the brake pedal into mechanical thrust, thereby pushing the brake pads to come into contact with the brake discs (or brake drums), and achieving vehicle deceleration or stopping through friction.
The specific working process is as follows: When braking, the master cylinder pressurizes the brake fluid and delivers it through oil pipes to the rear brake calipers. The pistons inside the calipers move under the action of hydraulic pressure, directly pushing the brake pads to clamp the brake discs and generate braking force.
This process relies on the precise collaboration of the hydraulic system. The rear brake caliper, in particular, bears a significant load when the vehicle's center of gravity shifts, which has a crucial impact on braking balance.
If the rear brake caliper malfunctions (such as oil leakage or piston jamming), it may cause the brakes to become soft, shift or drag, significantly reducing driving safety. Timely maintenance is required.
When the rear brake caliper of a car malfunctions, the braking system will exhibit various abnormalities. These symptoms may occur alone or in combination, and their severity varies depending on the extent of the damage.
Abnormal braking performance is a common manifestation, including weakened or failed braking effect, a soft brake pedal (feeling like stepping on cotton when pressed, requiring deep pressing to brake), significantly increased braking distance, and even brake pedal sinking (the pedal position rises after continuous pressing).
In extreme cases, a vehicle may completely lose its braking ability.
Abnormal operation feedback is manifested as poor return of the brake pedal (no rebound after pressing, no resistance), brake being too soft or too hard (the pedal feels high and hard, making it difficult to start), and brake deviation (the steering wheel pulls to one side when braking, causing the vehicle to deviate from a straight line).
These phenomena may be caused by the jamming of the caliper piston or the breakage of the return spring, resulting in single-side braking drag.
Youdaoplaceholder0 Abnormal sounds and vibrations include sharp friction sounds, metallic clanging sounds or continuous "sizzling" sounds when braking, accompanied by a clicking sensation of the brake pedal or high-frequency vibrations of the steering wheel.
This is usually related to uneven wear of brake pads, partial wear or problems with the guide pins of the calipers.
Youdaoplaceholder0 Physical damage signs such as brake fluid leakage (dark red oil stains near the wheel hub), abnormal wear of brake pads on one side (thickness difference exceeding 2mm), or air infiltration into the system causing hydraulic failure.
Long-term oil leakage may be accompanied by a burnt smell, indicating that the brakes are overheating.
The causes of the malfunction are mostly related to poor brake fluid quality, water intrusion, rust on components, aging of sealing rings or long-term lack of maintenance. External force impact or excessive wear of brake pads may also accelerate the damage of the sub-pump.
As the sub-pump cannot be repaired and new parts need to be replaced, it is recommended to use original factory parts and have them operated by professional technicians.
After discovering the above symptoms, the vehicle should be stopped immediately, high-speed driving should be avoided, and it should be sent for repair as soon as possible to ensure safety.
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