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Brake Booster

Over the years Automotive Braking system has been constantly evolving including the implementation of the Brake Booster. The Brake Booster is mostly located between the Brake Pedal and the Master Cylinder which are designed to improve braking performance and safety. Brake Boosters has become an essential component in the Braking System as it manipulates engine vacuum to be used in the Braking system to stop the vehicle. If you have ever opened the hood of your vehicle you must have seen the Brake Booster. It's the round and black Cannister mostly located at the back of the engine compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle. The Brake Booster is a metal Canister that contains a clever Valve and a Diaphragm. A connecting Rod that goes through the center of the Canister which connects to the master Cylinder's Piston on one side and to the pedal linkage on the other along with check valves.

Braking System Overview

The Braking System is complex and mostly misunderstood here is how it works by depressing the Brake Pedal a shaft is pushed forward which is attached to the Power Brake Booster which uses engine vacuum to help give the Brake Pedal added force and counters the high pressures found in the Braking System. The power of your foot pressing upon the Brake Pedal shaft helps push a piston inside the Brake Master Cylinder which in turn displaces Brake Fluid through the Braking system. This fluid passes to the Brake Cylinder through the proportioning Valve which is sub divided up to proper amounts to reach each Wheel further acting on the Brake slave Cylinders eventually clamping upon the Pads against the Brake Rotors slowing the vehicle in process.

Why Use a Brake Booster

Older vehicles commonly used Drum Brakes which naturally provide some of their own power assistance. Once Disc Brakes started to become more common the lack of Braking assistance started to become quite noticeable. Braking systems work with high fluid pressures and without the assistance of the Brake Booster it would be difficult to use the Brake pedal. The Brake Booster is a simple designed component which needs a vacuum to operate which is sourced by the Engine suitable for the Boosters to operate. If someone is used to a manual braking system without Brake Boosters assistance proper stopping ability would be limited to personal strength which jeopardizes todays automobile Braking system and could pose a safety concern while driving the vehicle. Since most vehicles today have Disc Brakes on the front Wheels they need Brake Boosters assistance as it makes the application of Brakes much swifter when required.

How a Brake Booster Works

When the Brake Pedal is pressed upon the Pedal linkage causes the Shaft to move forward interacting with the Brake Booster and Master cylinder. The Boosters contains a Diaphragm that separates its interiors into two parts with both in a partial vacuum this causes a Valve inside the Booster to open which in turn allows air into one side of the Booster. This difference in pressure on one side helps to push the piston inside the Brake Master Cylinder forward in response to the Brake Pedal which in turn slows and stops the vehicle. A Brake Booster increases the force the Brake Pedal exerts on the Brake Master Cylinder by using engine vacuum and pressure. Without a brake booster, even the simple act of slowing your vehicle would require higher amounts of effort. It increases the pedal force 2 to 4 times depending on the size of the Diaphragms in the Braking system. As the Brake pedal is released the valve seals off the outside air supply while reopening the vacuum valve which restores vacuum to both sides of the Diaphragm allowing the Braking unit and the pedal to return back in position.

( Sources and Citation : http://www.theautopartsshop.com/carsystem/ )