Disc Brake Pads
Disc brakes have three main parts: brake pads, calipers, and rotors. Disc brake pads are made of friction materials that are bonded to metal plates. In a disc brake, the brake pads squeeze the rotor rather than the wheel. The force is transmitted hydraulically, and the friction between the pads and the disc slows the disc down. This in turn slows down the vehicle.
Friction materials, like those used in brake pads, are used to increase friction in applications where a decrease in movement is desired, such as in braking mechanisms. Brake systems use friction materials to stop wheels from rotating. When a brake is pressed, it activates a system that places the brake pad against a disc that slows the wheels of the vehicle.
Brake pads need to be replaced periodically. In fact, the most common type of maintenance needed for brakes is a change of pads. Most disc brake pads are employed with a piece of metal, called a wear indicator. When most of the friction material has been worn away on the pad, a warning sound is emitted when the brakes are activated. This noise indicates that the pads need to be replaced.