When people buy a new electric bicycle, they often encounter such a tangled question: Different models of electric bicycles of the same brand have different brakes. Which brake device should I choose to achieve a satisfactory braking effect and last longer? The mechanic tells you which brake device is better when buying an electric bicycle.
The first brake device: drum brake
A drum brake, also known as a block brake, is a cast iron brake block that is shaped like a tambourine by the brake pad. Drum brakes, also known as block brakes, rely on the brake pads to squeeze a cast iron brake block (that is, the brake drum, which is fixed with the tire and rotates at the same speed), which is shaped like a tambourine, and presses on the brake wheel to achieve a braking or decelerating effect. At present, drum brakes are mainly internal expansion type. Drum brakes are brake pads that open outward against the hub to achieve braking or deceleration effects.
The second brake device: disc brake
Disc brakes are composed of brake discs, brake calipers, wheel cylinders, pistons, and oil pipes (this set of structures is mainly found in motorcycles and automobiles). The brake disc is generally connected to the rotating shaft of the electric bicycle, and there are brake calipers at both ends of the brake disc plane. Two piston brake pads on the caliper. One end of the piston is the oil pipe and the other end is the brake pad. When braking, the brake fluid in the oil pipe is compressed and pushes the piston to move, pushing out the brake pads. Make the two brake pads clamp the brake disc, just like clamping the rotating disc with pliers, to achieve the effect of braking or deceleration. There are two types of disc brakes: hydraulic disc brakes and mechanical disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes rely on oil to press the discs to obtain braking force. Mechanical disc brakes rely on the pulling force of the brake wire to make the brake pads in the caliper rub and clamp the disc to produce a braking effect. Electric bicycles mainly use mechanical disc brakes. Electric motorcycles use more hydraulic disc brakes.
The third brake device: ABS
At present, the new electric bicycle also adopts ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). It uses the sensors installed on the braking system to sense the movement of the wheels when braking, thereby controlling the power of the bicycle. For example, when the sensor senses that the wheel is about to stop rotating, it will send a command to the braking system to reduce the braking force, and the speed of the wheel will decrease rapidly under the action of the braking system. When the wheel resumes turning, the braking force will increase again, and when the wheel is about to stop again, the braking force will decrease. Repeat this to make sure the wheel doesn’t get locked. And this action is very fast to avoid accidents such as sideslip and spinning caused by wheel locking. Some electric bicycles are decelerated by clamping the wheel rim with the caliper to generate friction.
In short, the anti-noise function of the drum brake is better. Disc brakes use friction to restrain the speed and achieve the purpose of deceleration and parking. The main advantage of disc brakes is that the braking effect is good; the main disadvantage is that the structure is complicated, the cost is high, and it is easy to lock. The advantage of ABS is that it can anti-lock braking; the disadvantage is that the system is complicated. In addition, after the drum brake has been used for a period of time, it is necessary to regularly adjust the gap of the brake shoe, and even remove the entire brake drum to clean up the accumulated brake powder.
I hope that after reading the characteristics of the above brake devices, which brake device is better, you will have a clear choice in your heart.