Car Makers BMW and Lexus Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Now that we ve got the car underway, we can cruise along happily until we need to stop! What does the braking system do to counteract the tremendous power of the engine and the rest of the drive train, as well as the mass and velocity that your car has stored as it accelerated? Despite their relatively small size (compared to the engine and other parts of the car), the brakes are actually a lot stronger than the engine. That s because they have the ability to take off speed faster than the engine and drive train can put it on. The famous unintended acceleration scare on Audis in the 1980s was due to drivers claiming that the car accelerated despite them having their foot pressed all the way down on the brake. In fact, these drivers may have mistaken the gas pedal for the brake pedal, because it was demonstrated that you cannot move a car with the foot on the brake, even if you press the accelerator to the floorboards. How is it that the brakes work so well? They have a surface area (brake pads) up against metal disks or drums which can grab with tremendous force. We will write a custom essay sample on Car Makers: BMW and Lexus or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Mercedes found that the driver sometimes didn t apply enough pressure to the brake pedal to get the car to stop fast enough. By brake assist software installation, Mercedes was able to ensure that the driver used all the capabilities of the car s brakes and anti-lock braking system to full effect. How do you steer? That seems a silly question you turn the steering wheel, right? Well, that s part of it, but not the whole story. When you turn the steering wheel, you are moving a bunch of mechanical parts which eventually cause the front wheels to turn.