Hydraulic System: Description and Operation

Hydraulic Brake System
The hydraulic brake system is split in to two independent circuits: the primary circuit operates the front brakes and the secondary circuit operates the rear brakes. This type of system prevents complete brake failure in the event of a brake tube fracture.








The hydraulic brake system consists of the following components:

Master Cylinder and Reservoir





The tandem master cylinder contains two independent pistons, fluid pressure to each brake circuit is controlled by its own individual piston . Brake fluid is supplied to the master cylinder by the reservoir, which is divided into two sections to prevent total fluid loss should one of the circuits fail. A port situated at the bottom of each section of the reservoir supplies the fluid to each piston.
The fluid reservoir has a fluid-level indicator switch installed, which operates when the fluid level is low, causing the brake fluid level warning-lamp to illuminate.

Calipers
The brake calipers are of the single piston type. The caliper carrier, which is secured to the vertical link by two bolts, carries the single-piston caliper housing. The caliper housing is secured to the caliper carrier by two guide-pins and an anti-rattle spring. When the brakes are applied, the caliper-housing piston pushes the brake pad in front of it, towards the brake disc. This movement forces the caliper housing to move along the guide-pins, in the opposite direction of the piston, to apply the second brake pad.

Brembo Calipers
The four cylinder brake caliper is rigidly attached to the vertical link / hub carrier via an anchor bracket. The caliper is a split assembly with each side of the caliper, housing two pistons. The two-pairs of opposed pistons act directly on the brake pads mounted one each side of the disc.