(R)EVOLUTION - The evolution of automotive braking

The evolution of automotive braking

Among all the innovations that have shaped the history of the automobile, braking is undoubtedly one of the most crucial. While speed and power are fascinating, the ability to slow down and stop safely remains the true guarantee of vehicle control. Since the birth of the automobile, engineers have continued to perfect braking systems, moving from rudimentary devices to increasingly reliable, durable and efficient technologies.

The 1970s marked a decisive step in this evolution. Faced with the need to improve road safety, the industry gradually abandoned the use of asbestos, which had long been used in brake linings but was recognised as hazardous. New composite materials, capable of withstanding high temperatures and mechanical stress, took over. More resistant and safer, they helped to make systems more reliable and meet growing performance requirements.

At the same time, disc brakes are becoming more widespread. Introduced tentatively a few decades earlier, they are gradually replacing drum brakes, which are considered less effective. The disc, combined with pads pressed against its surface, offers more consistent braking power, better resistance to overheating and more controlled wear. In sports cars and mass-produced models alike, this advance quickly became indispensable. The feeling of control it provided transformed driving and reassured motorists faced with the increasing speeds reached by cars in the 1970s and 1980s.

These developments were not only technical: they embodied a new philosophy, one that placed safety at the heart of automotive progress. The history of braking is inextricably linked to that of accident prevention. Each advance – whether a new material, improved mechanical architecture or, later, the introduction of electronics with ABS – pursued the same goal: to give drivers the ability to react quickly, effectively and with confidence.

This desire for improvement is not new. As early as 1888, Bertha Benz, Carl Benz’s wife and visionary partner, already recognised its importance. During her famous maiden voyage in a motor car, she reinforced her vehicle’s rudimentary brakes by adding leather strips. This simple but ingenious gesture foreshadowed the very principle of modern brake pads, demonstrating that innovation in braking was born out of a desire to protect and ensure safety.

From Bertha Benz’s leather strips to today’s sophisticated systems, braking tells a story of ingenuity and responsibility. The advances of the 1970s, with the abandonment of asbestos and the widespread use of disc brakes, marked a real turning point in this story. They remind us that automotive performance is not only measured in acceleration or top speed, but also and above all in the ability to stop safely.