disc brake

noun

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of disc brake

: a brake that operates by the action of a frictional material pressed against the sides of a rotating disc by a caliper

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Recent Examples of disc brake from the Web

The ride quality is comfortable and the handling is confident, with four-wheel regenerative disc brakes that channel kinetic energy back to the battery.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2018 Toyota Prius Prime: Nothing fancy, just 640 miles on a tank," 8 June 2018
It has been lowered, shaved, and has disc brakes from a ’67 Pontiac, rocker trim from a ’66 Bonneville, window channel trim from a ’65 Buick, dual pinstripe whitewall tires and hubcaps with chrome bullets from a ’62 Tempest.

— heidi van horne, Houston Chronicle, "1965 Pontiac Bonneville passed hands from one friend to another," 7 July 2018
High-octane fuels, disc brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers and other improvements developed during the war made their way onto race cars.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Here are the six best Indy 500s ever — by generation | Miami Herald," 25 May 2018
The curb weight is husky at 3,729 pounds (safety features and all-wheel drive are weighty), but there is strong stopping power from the four-wheel, vented disc brakes with 13.6-inch rotors front and 11.9-inch rear.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2019 Volvo XC40: Small but packed with innovation," 27 Apr. 2018
Other standard features include a MacPherson strut front suspension and five-link rear suspension; electric power steering; four-wheel disc brakes, with GM’s Duralife rotors; and an electronic parking brake.

— g. chambers williams iii, star-telegram, "GMC’s 2018 Acadia crossover offers All-Terrain version for off-road jaunts | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 24 Feb. 2018
There is secure braking from the regenerative four-wheel disc brakes, with 12-inch vented rotors front, 11.06-inch solid rotors rear.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE: A 'Young Sheldon' genius of midsize sedans," 26 Jan. 2018
The tail follows with the tenacity of a puppy chewing the legs off a Barcalounger, and the conventional disc brakes manage that elusive mix of amazing whoa! without the grab that comes with exotic pad and rotor materials.

— steve siler, Car and Driver, "2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Manual," 28 Feb. 2018
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes reduce wheel lockup and help maintain steering control when braking hard on slippery surfaces.

— emma jayne williams, star-telegram, "Buick’s Cascada convertible has room for up to four people, starts at $33,065 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 17 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disc brake.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.