One of the simplest types of braking systems is mechanical brakes. Mechanical brake is a braking system with physical components directly connected to each other.
So, in general there are three types of braking systems in vehicles.
- Mechanical brakes, using interrelated mechanical components.
- Hydraulic brakes, use fluid to connect the input to the brake actuator.
- Pneumatic brakes, use compressed air to generate braking power.
This mechanical brake, widely used on two wheels. Bicycles and moto bikes.
The reason, the mechanical brake has a simple design, low cost and uncomplicated maintenance.
So for two-wheeler vehicles, it is efficient to use mechanical brakes as a braking system.
But the mechanical brake system has a weakness, the braking power is lower than hydraulic brakes. That's because mechanical brakes have a lot of energy loss. So, when we press the brake pedal with the same force, the mechanical braking power is lower than the hydraulic brake.
That is why vehicles with high speed and heavy loads do not use mechanical brakes.
Type of Mechanical Brakes
There are two types of mechanical brake systems that are widely used in vehicles.
1. String mechanical brakes
The first type uses a steel wire to connect the input to the brake actuator.
This type is widely used in vehicles, two wheels and cars. It is used as a rear brake, combined with a drum brake as an actuator.
Some vehicles, such as scooters, use this brake.
How about a car? whether to use that?
Some cars use a mechanical brake as a parking brake. Manual parking brake, uses a lever to activate the parking brake. Brake lever and actuator, connected via a wire.
So it goes to the mechanical brake string.
2. Fixed mechanical brakes
The second type is fixed mechanical brakes, you only find this type on the old moto bikes that still use drum brakes for the rear wheels.
This type uses an iron rod to connect the input to the brake actuator.
Because it uses a solid iron rod, this type is inflexible. So that the brake input location must be in line with the brake actuator.
That is why, on the old motor bikes the rear brake is activated via the pedal, which is located close to the rear drum brake.