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History of cars 1800s
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Drum brakes (a system where shoes pressed against the inside of a drum fitted to the wheel) appeared in 1903. Since the drum and wheel rotate together, friction applied by the shoes inside the drum stopped the vehicle. Hydraulic assisted braking was introduced in the 1920's. Disk brakes were in use by the 1950's. In a disk brake, friction pads clamp down on both sides of a disk attatched to the axle.
Antilock Braking System (ABS) uses a computer, senstor, and hydraulic pumps to stop the automobile's forward motion without locking the wheels and putting the vehicle into a skid. ABS helps the driver maintain better control over the car during emergency stops and while braking on slick surfaces.
Automobiles are equipped with a hand-operated brake, that is used for emergencies and to securely park the car. Pulling on a lever or pushing down on a foot pedal usually sets the brake. |
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