Whether the braking performance is good or not is an important parameter when consumers choose vehicles. Among vehicle braking methods, air brake and oil brake have relatively high utilization rate. Today, let's talk about the differences between air brake and oil brake, and what models they are applicable to.

1. Structure

The air brake is generally composed of air compressor, brake valve, brake chamber, air reservoir, barometer, air pump, pressure spring, safety valve, brake pipeline and other components.

The structure of air brake is relatively complex, and the required installation space is also large, which is suitable for medium and large vehicles.

In contrast, the structure of the oil brake is simpler. It is generally composed of a brake master cylinder, a slave cylinder, an oil cup and a connecting pipe. The brake is powered by the engine oil pump. This also makes the installation space smaller and suitable for small vehicles.

In terms of braking medium, there are also differences between the two. The air brake mainly relies on air to push the brake pad to work after being pressurized; The oil brake uses special brake oil as the medium to push the brake pads through the oil.

2. Principle

Air brake:

The power braking is mainly realized by pneumatic drive.

When the vehicle stops, the push rod of the brake chamber controls the brake under the action of the spring force;

After the vehicle starts, the air pump runs. When the pressure reaches a certain value, the push rod of the brake chamber overcomes the spring force and releases the brake state under the action of air pressure, so that the vehicle can run;

When braking is required, the brake pedal controls the brake valve to release the pressure in the brake chamber, and the push rod brakes under the action of spring force.

Oil brake:

When the car owner steps on the brake, the piston and sealing cup in the brake master cylinder will be pushed by the brake pedal, and the push rod will work to transfer the brake oil to the pistons of each brake wheel cylinder through the oil pipe, and then push the friction plate and the brake drum to produce friction, so as to achieve the braking effect.

3. Features

Air brake:

Fast reaction speed, strong braking force, and the size of braking force output is only related to the air pressure in the air reservoir and the valve opening, not to the force of stepping down; It is not easy to slide in the uphill and downhill road conditions, it can be stopped in an emergency at full speed, and it is not easy to roll over in an emergency brake.

The structure is relatively complex, the installation space is large, the brake wear is obvious, and the later maintenance is relatively complex; Frequent stepping on the brake pedal when going downhill will also lead to insufficient air pressure and brake failure. Some old cars need to be inflated at idle speed for a period of time after parking.

Oil brake:

Simple structure, small size, relatively small requirements for installation space, soft braking force output, not easy to lock, high driving comfort, few components, and convenient maintenance.

The reaction speed is a little slow, the braking force is weak, and the oil circuit needs regular maintenance.

4. Applicable model

Air brakes are mostly used in medium and heavy trucks and heavy buses. In recent years, they are more and more widely used in small light trucks, mostly in combination with air break brakes;

The oil brake is mostly installed on small tonnage vehicles, such as passenger cars or small micro cards.

Therefore, if the vehicle owner's model is a medium heavy truck, air brake is generally selected;

If the car owner uses a micro truck or light truck, it is necessary to combine the daily operating conditions. If the load carrying capacity is not large, the transportation speed is not fast, and the road conditions are not complex, the oil brake is generally sufficient; If the load capacity is large, and you often run at high speed or on complex roads, it is recommended to choose air brake.

5. Maintenance

Regularly check the thickness of the brake pads and the wear of the brake discs/brake drums. When it is found that the thickness of the brake pads is close to or less than the specified thickness, or there is a dent on the surface of the brake discs or brake drums, they should be replaced immediately.

For vehicles with oil braking, check the brake oil level before driving. If the oil level drops, immediately check the brake oil circuit for leakage. Because the brake oil absorbs moisture in the air, it is easy to lose efficacy after a long time. The brake oil should be replaced regularly according to regulations, preferably once a year.

Air brake vehicles should pay attention to regularly drain the water in the system and replace the dryer. The water in the air circuit system is easy to corrode the pipeline and affect the braking effect, and even lead to the failure of the braking system in serious cases. In addition, check the working condition of the air pump and the wear of the air pump belt frequently, and replace it if any problem is found.