ZF is supplying a system that uses hydraulic-fluid-free braking

By Gary S. Vasilash

One of the things (among many) that most drivers probably don’t think much about is brake fluid, a glycol- or silicone-based hydraulic fluid that is pressurized when the brake pedal is depressed (roughly: the pedal initiates a vacuum booster that activates the master cylinder which pushes brake fluid through the brake lines so that it goes to the wheel caliper and then forces a set of pistons that apply the brake pads so the vehicle will slow or stop).

Which is probably something most don’t think about, either.

Or that it is generally recommended that brake fluid be changed every two years or 30,000 miles.

Who knew?

Some lucky drivers of vehicles produced by an unnamed “global manufacturer” will be getting vehicles that at least have a reduced amount of brake fluid on board, as those vehicles will be equipped with an electro-mechanical braking system (EMB) from supplier ZF.

The EMB is a “dry brake-by-wire” system.

That is, when pressure is applied to the brake pedal a signal travels to electric motors that generate the pressure needed to provide braking.

No fluids are involved.

However, in this particular application the EMB is being used for the rear brakes with hydraulics at the front, so the entire braking system isn’t entirely dry.

According to ZF the EMB system is a contributor to software-defined vehicles.

That is, there can be adjustments made to the performance parameters EMB made via code, something that is not going to happen on a purely hydraulic setup (which would require adjustments with a wrench).

Of course, drivers are still going to have to be aware of that need to replace brake fluid in those vehicles. . . .