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The braking system in your car is essential to your safety on the road, but did you know that it works differently in different vehicles? In this post, we will explore how your car brakes and what type of braking system you have. We’ll also explain how to read a tire sticker so that you can identify the make and model of your vehicle at a glance.
Types of Braking Systems
There are three types of braking systems: traditional, integrated and unified. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important for you to understand which type you have in your car.
Traditional braking systems use three separate parts: the brake pedal, which stops the wheels from rotating; the brake booster, which increases pressure on the brakes when you press down on the pedal; and the brake calliper, which moves a pad against the rotor to stop it from turning.
Integrated braking systems have two components: a brake module that contains both the calipers and sensors, and a motorized drive unit that controls the engine’s electric motor.
The unified system combines the brake booster, callipers and sensors into one unit. It is found in some high-end cars such as the Mercedes S Class, but it’s not very common today.

Checking for Compatibility – Understanding the Numbers
The first thing you should do when buying a car is to check its tire sticker to find out what make and model it is. The numbers on the sticker will tell you important information about the vehicle’s year of production and its safety features. The first number in the list is the week of manufacture (W1, W2, etc.). The second number is the year of production (for example, 06 means 2006).
The third digit indicates the model year (so a 2010 Toyota Camry would be listed as “10” on its tire sticker). This is important because it can tell you when the car was made and if any safety features were added after that date. For example, in 2011 several automakers issued recalls for faulty airbags due to problems with their sensors. If your car has an airbag, then you would want to make sure that it was produced after 2011.
The fourth number on the tyre sticker is a code for where the car was made (for example, Japan). The fifth and sixth numbers are important if you plan on having your vehicle serviced outside of its home country. For example, if you live in Sweden but bought a Japanese car, then you should keep these two numbers intact so that technicians can identify what parts need replacing. The seventh, eighth and ninth digits are for specific information about the model year.
The 10th digit tells you what type of brake system you have: traditional, integrated or unified. The numbers “01” through “03” indicate a traditional braking system. If your car has an integrated braking system, then it will have one of these numbers: “04” through “06”. If you have a unified braking system, then the last two digits will be “07” and “08”.
Drum vs Rotor Braking Systems
You also need to identify whether you have brake drums or brake rotors. Brake drums are typically found on older vehicles, but they are still in use today due to their low cost and durability. Brake rotors are found on more modern cars because they improve stopping power by changing the direction of the vehicle’s momentum.

Brake Pads
The brake pads are the most important part of your braking system because they come into contact with the rotors. There are two types of pads: friction and non-friction. Friction pads use a material that creates friction when it comes in contact with the rotor, which helps slow down the car’s momentum.
Non-friction pads do not use any type of material; instead, they rely on their own weight to press against the rotor. These are typically found in older cars as well as some modern vehicles such as the Honda Civic.
Which Braking System is Right for Me?
If you live in an area where it rains often, then there are some advantages to having a braking system with rotors. They offer better stopping power when wet and they tend to last longer than brake drums. In addition, because they rotate, they wear out more slowly than friction pads.
However, these systems are heavier than their counterparts so they can affect fuel efficiency. The integrated and unified systems are lighter than traditional braking systems and they can give you better fuel efficiency. However, they are more expensive than the other two types of systems because they have additional parts such as sensors and motors that help them function properly.
If you drive an SUV or a car with four-wheel drive, then it’s important for you to make sure that your vehicle has a unified system because it offers the best stopping power in bad weather conditions. The integrated system is also popular among those who frequently drive off-road because it has better traction than the traditional and unified systems.
If you live in an area with good road conditions, then the traditional braking system will be more than enough for your car. It is lighter than other types of brakes and it does not have any additional parts that can cause problems down the road.