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Heavy vehicles form the backbone of commercial transportation. Ensuring that these large and powerful vehicles stop safely is critical to the safety of not only drivers but all road users. Braking systems play a fundamental role in ensuring this safety. In this article, we will discuss the basic functions of braking systems and their importance for heavy vehicle safety, then compare disc brakes, drum brakes, and other types of brakes.

Basic Functions and Importance of Brake Systems
Braking systems play a vital role in controlling the speed of a vehicle and stopping it. In heavy vehicles, the functions of these systems can be summarized as follows:

Speed Control: Used to reduce the speed of heavy vehicles or keep them at a constant speed.
Stop: Allows the vehicle to stop safely.
Safety: Prevents accidents during sudden stops or emergencies.
Stability: Maintains stability and improves road-holding depending on the distribution of the vehicle load.
The effectiveness of heavy vehicle braking systems ensures the safety of the driver and passengers as well as other road users. Therefore, regular maintenance and correct use of brake systems are vital in preventing accidents.

Disc Brakes
Disc brakes are a type of brakes commonly used in modern heavy vehicles. In this system, there is a disc attached to the wheel and the brake pedals compress this disc and slow down the vehicle. The main advantages of disc brakes are:

Better Cooling: The open design of the discs allows heat to dissipate more easily and prevents the brakes from overheating.
Faster Response: Disc brakes respond faster compared to drum brakes, making them safer in emergency situations.
Less Wear: Discs and pads generally last longer and require less maintenance.
However, disc brakes also have some disadvantages. For example, they are generally more expensive and their performance may decrease slightly when they come into contact with mud or water.

Drum Brakes
Drum brakes are an older technology and are still used on some heavy vehicles. In this system, the brake shoes stop the vehicle by expanding an internal drum. The main advantages of drum brakes are:

Closed Design: Drum brakes are more protected against external factors such as mud and water.
Higher Torque: Larger drum diameters can provide more braking torque.
The disadvantages of drum brakes are as follows:

Harder to Cool: The closed design makes it harder for heat to dissipate and can cause the brakes to overheat.
More Wear: Brake shoes and drums can wear out faster and require more frequent maintenance.
Other Brake Types
Apart from disc and drum brakes, there are several other types of brakes used on heavy vehicles:

Hydraulic Brakes: Provides braking using hydraulic pressure. It is generally common in smaller vehicles but is also used in some heavy-duty vehicles.
Air Brakes: Commonly used, especially on large trucks and buses. It brakes using air pressure and is generally a very reliable system.
Conclusion
Heavy vehicle braking systems are vital to ensuring vehicles stop safely. Disc brakes and drum brakes are the most commonly used types of brakes, with different advantages and disadvantages. For heavy vehicle drivers and owners, regular maintenance and correct use of braking systems are critical to a safe driving experience. Therefore, knowledge about the functions and types of braking systems makes a big difference in terms of both vehicle safety and road safety.