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What are the parts of a brake?

I’m trying to get a better sense of the parts that make up my car and how they work together. What are the parts of a brake?

Melanie Mergen · Updated on Apr 22, 2022

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

It’s always good to have a general sense of the parts that make your car work! Braking systems can vary from vehicle to vehicle, but these are the general brake parts that can make up a car’s braking system:

Master cylinder: Activated by the brake pedal, sends brake fluid to braking mechanisms at the wheels

Brake lines: Transfer brake fluid from the master cylinder to the wheels

Disc brakes: Type of brake that uses friction against the disc rotor to slow down the vehicle

Drum brakes: Type of brake in which a brake shoe presses on the inside of a drum to slow down the vehicle

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