Brake shoe

A brake pad is an object that is pressed against a rotating or moving object translationally in order to reduce its speed. The braking force is generated by friction. It is dependent on the sliding speed, the materials used, the pressure and the temperature.

Physically removes the braking, kinetic energy (energy of motion) of the object to be braked. This energy accumulates as heat in the friction partners and must be discharged in an appropriate manner.

The brake pad has at its Andruckseite the shape of the moving object. It is worn in the course of its use more or less rapidly, but generally faster than the material to which it brakes rubbing.

First brake pads found on carriages and farm wagon. Here is pressed a suppressed either by a lever or spindle rotation wood block on the wheel tread. The spindle brake is usually located on the right side of the carriage, as strength and skill are needed to apply the brake quickly enough. In railways brake blocks made ​​of gray cast iron were used as they are still located mainly on wagons in use since the 1860s.

Brake pads also come on disc brakes are used. Today, however, carriers are bonded metal with brake pads of different fiber composite materials to the sintered metal. With drum brakes, the term brake shoe brake pad is used instead.

• Braking technique