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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?

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Melanie Mergen · Updated on
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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