The brake system is the most important safety feature in your car as it allows you to control the car’s speed or bring it to a complete stop. The brake system starts from the brake pedal inside your car and runs to the brake pads attached to the wheels. If you are learning how the brake system works, you might wonder if cars only use the front brakes.
So, do cars only use front brakes? Cars use front brakes and rear brakes to stop or slow down. All modern vehicles have brakes on all four wheels, and when you press the brake pedal, all brake pads should work. Front brakes will wear faster than rear brakes because of weight and inertia. When you inspect your brakes and the front ones are worn, but the rear ones are still in good condition, you can change the front brakes only.
Understanding how your car works is very important because you can pick up signs that your car needs servicing. One key feature on your car that you need to know how it works is the brake system so that you can know when to repair or replace it.
When you inspect your car, you will notice that there are brake pads or drums on each wheel. The brake system needs regular maintenance regularly, including replacing the brake pads and rotors, among other parts. If you have bought a car and want to know how the brake system works, you might wonder if it only uses the front brakes.
Cars do not use front brakes only; they use all brakes. All modern vehicles have brakes on all four wheels, and they work at the same time. When you press the brake pedal to engage the brakes, all brake pads will press against the rotors to slow down the wheels.
To effectively stop the car, manufacturers will include brakes on all wheels. Some manufacturers will use brake pads on the front wheels and brake drums on the rear wheels. Even though all brakes on your car will be in use, the front brakes tend to wear faster than the rear brakes. If the front brakes are worn and need replacements, you can replace them first and replace the rear brakes at a later date when they are worn or damaged.
Regardless of the drive, all cars will use all brakes when slowing down or stopping. Cars usually come in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. It does not matter which type of drive your car is; your car will use all the brakes fitted on its wheels.
Car manufacturers usually install brake pads and rotors on the front wheels and brake drums and brake shoes on the rear wheels. However, some cars have brake pads on all four wheels or brake drums on all four wheels. Brake drums are usually cheaper to install and maintain, which is why some car manufacturers still use them on modern cars.
Even though your car will use all brakes, it is normal for the front ones to wear faster than the rear ones. The front brakes will wear faster because of inertia and the extra weight resting on the front wheels.
Most cars have engines on the front part of the car, adding more weight to the front wheels than the rear wheels. The extra weight exerts more pressure on the front brakes, increasing friction, which wears the pads faster.
When you are driving your car and apply the brakes, more weight shifts to the front of the car due to inertia extending extra pressure on the brake pads. Even if you are driving an electric car that does not have an engine in the front, the front brake will be the first to wear because of the extra weight shifting to the front wheel when braking.
You are required to replace your brakes when they are worn or damaged, but it is not necessary to replace all four brakes at once. When you inspect the brakes and notice the front ones are too thin or damaged beyond repair, you must replace them as soon as possible. However, if the rear brakes are still in top condition, you do not have to replace them.
You can replace the front brakes and keep driving without facing any brake issues. You can replace the rear brakes when they are worn or damaged. When you replace the front brakes alone, you should check on the rear brakes regularly to ensure they are in good condition. It is dangerous to drive a car that has faulty or worn brakes.
Which brakes are most important, front or back?
In modern cars, all four wheels are fitted with brakes that help control the car’s speed and stop it. All brakes are part of the brake system that starts from the brake pedal in your car running to all four wheels. As you are driving your car, you might wonder which brakes are the most important; front or back.
The front brakes are the most important brakes because they do the heavy lifting when you want to stop or slow down your car. When you brake, the weight of your car usually shifts from the rear to the front of the car, exerting extra pressure on the front wheels. The extra pressure exerted on the front wheels increases friction between the brake pads and rotors so that the wheels can stop spinning.
If the front brakes do not lock up first, your car will lose stability and spin when the rear brakes lock up. To ensure that the front brakes function properly, car manufacturers usually make them with a stronger material that can endure extra friction without wearing them faster. Front brakes will wear faster than the rear brakes; hence, you will have to replace them sooner than the rear ones.
When you buy new brakes for your car, you will notice that the front brakes are heavier and thicker compared to the rear brakes. The front brakes are made stronger to ensure they do not fail when you use them.
When driving your car, its weight is distributed evenly, but Newton’s Law of Motion comes into play as soon as you press the brake pedal. 60 to 90% of the car’s weight will shift to the front part making the front brakes absorb extra friction than the rear brakes.
The front brakes are stronger to ensure that they can withstand extra friction and heat without wearing them faster. Since the front brakes do most of the work, you will lose most of the braking power if they fail while driving. Your car will take longer to stop and will become unstable when you brake aggressively.
When you press the brake pedal on your car, all brakes will be engaged, but the rear brakes will handle less than 40% of the braking power. The rear brakes generate low heat compared to the front brakes and also encounter less friction because most of the car’s weight has shifted to the front.
The rear brakes are thinner and have smaller rotors and calipers. Even though rear brakes do less work compared to the front brakes, they are still important in ensuring your car can stop or slow down when needed. Rear brakes provide stability, ensuring your car does not spin or jump up when you brake aggressively.
Most cars usually have brake discs on the front wheels and brake drums on the rear wheels. Brake discs consist of brake pads, rotors, and calipers. When you apply brakes, the calipers will clamp down, pressing the brake pads against the rotating rotor stopping it or slowing it down.
Brake discs have a better braking capability than brake drums; hence, most car manufacturers prefer to install brake discs on the front wheels or all wheels. Brake drums consist of cylinders and brake shoes. The cylinder is attached to the wheel, and the brake shoe is installed inside the cylinder.
When you press the brake pedal, the brake shoe pushes against the inside of the cylinder, slowing down the wheel or stopping it. The brake drum is an old brake design, but some car manufacturers still use it, especially on the rear wheels.
You must ensure your front brakes are working properly and in good condition because they do most of the braking. Inspect all your brakes regularly to see if they still have the required thickness.
If the front brake pads are too thin, making noises, or are damaged, you should replace them as soon as possible. Ensure that you have bought front brake pads because installing rear brake pads on front wheels could be dangerous. You do not have to replace all brakes at once; if the rear brakes are still in good condition, you can continue using them until they wear out or get damaged.
Can you drive without rear brakes?
Before driving your car, you must ensure everything is working perfectly, especially the brake system. Sometimes the rear brakes can malfunction, meaning only the front brakes will work when you press the brake pedal. If your car does not have rear brakes, you might be wondering if you can drive the car without them.
You should not drive your car without rear brakes because it is unsafe to do so. In some jurisdictions, driving your car without rear brakes is illegal, and if you are caught doing so, you can be arrested and fined. Rear brakes play an important role in stopping and stabilizing your car; hence, without them, you might lose control of your car when you apply the brakes. When you are driving your car, and you realize that the rear brakes are not working, you should stop the car at a safe location and call roadside assistance. Take your vehicle to a mechanic for inspection, and the mechanic can either repair the rear brakes or replace them.
A faulty brake system can be dangerous because you might lack the braking force to slow the car or stop it when needed. You must ensure that the brakes on all four wheels are working properly before driving your car.
If your car’s rear brake does not work, your car will lose up to 40% of its braking power. Your car will travel a longer distance before it comes to a complete stop; hence you might cause accidents if you drive without rear brakes. Rear brakes also provide stability on a vehicle; hence, when you brake aggressively and your car does not have rear brakes, the car might spin out of control or roll over. The car might also jump when you brake hard, causing injuries to you and your passengers.
Rear brakes usually fail while driving, and the most common cause is a leak in the brake system. If the brake fluid is leaking, the brake line will lose pressure; hence, when you press the brake pedal, none of the pressure will reach the rear brakes.
Another issue that might cause the rear brakes to fail is worn or damaged brake pads or shoes. If the brake pads are too thin, they cannot generate any friction; hence, no matter how much you press the brake pedal, the rear brake will not engage. Damaged rotors or drums can also make the rear brakes fail.
If your rear brakes are not working, you must have them inspected as soon as possible. The mechanic will check for the cause of the problem and fix it accordingly. You can replace your rear brakes at home if you have the necessary skills and knowledge.
Do not attempt to drive your car if you know the rear brakes are not working. If you cannot replace the rear brakes, you can call the mechanic to come and replace them. You should also inspect your car’s brake regularly and replace the brake whenever you reach the required mileage. Most rear brakes should be replaced after driving the car for more than 50,000 miles, but the distance can be shortened depending on your driving habits.
Summary
Most cars have brakes on all four wheels and work simultaneously whenever you press the brake pedal. The front brakes are the strongest brakes on your car because they do most of the work.
Front brakes will contribute between 60 and 90% of the braking power, while the rear brakes will contribute less than 40%. The front brakes are made from the strongest material and are the thickest because they encounter extra friction because of the extra weight and inertia.
You should not attempt to drive your car without rear brakes because they provide stability to your car. If you notice your car’s rear brakes are not working before driving your car, ensure you have replaced or repaired them before driving. Suppose the rear brakes fail while driving; stop your vehicle at a safe spot and call roadside assistance.
