Most modern vehicles are equipped with brake discs on their front wheels and some on all four wheels. This is the part of the braking system that does the actual job of stopping the moving vehicle. In your Mazda, the Mazda brake disc is simply the device responsible for slowing or stopping your spinning wheels. It is connected to the wheel or the axle and is usually built from cast iron ceramic. It consists of three main components: the brake pads, brake caliper which includes a piston, and the rotor which is mounted on the hub. In your brake disc, when the brake pedal is pressed, the fluid coming from the master cylinder is forced under pressure to the brake caliper where it pushed against a piston. The piston, will then compress the two brake pads against the rotor, creating a friction that will stop or slow down the rotating wheels. Your moving vehicle has a certain amount of kinetic energy, and it is the job of the brakes to remove this energy in order to stop it.
The design of the Mazda brake disc varies. Some are simply constructed from solid cast iron while others are hollowed out and have fins that link together the disc's two contact surfaces and these are called the 'ventilated discs'. These ventilated discs are specifically designed to facilitate dispersion of heat that is created during braking. This is advantageous to the life of the brake pads as well as the disc. For high performance vehicles, the use of cross-drilled brake discs have been popular and these are designed to allow the gas someplace to escape and prevent it from settling on the brake pads and the disc which could surely affect the braking performance. Although modern brake discs seldom suffer from out-gassing problems, water residue may rather accumulate on the disc after the vehicle is submerged through a puddle of water and thus impeding braking performance. That is why, for effective heat dispersion and to free the disc from the accumulation of water and other debris, cross drilled brake discs are the best choice.
There are also slotted where there are machined grooves in its surface which aids in dust and gas removal. Slotting is the most favored method for most racing environments since it efficiently get rid of water, gas, and de-glaze brake pads. Some brake discs may come both slotted and drilled. However, slotted discs are not generally used on standard vehicles as they can wear out the brake pads faster. But for racing vehicles, these are beneficial as they can keep the pads soft and prevents vitrifying of the surface. On the road, the slotted and drilled brake discs have a positive output especially in wet road conditions since their holes and slots prevents water from building up between the pads and the disc. Brake discs are commonly built from a highly durable material called the 'grey iron'. To get the best performance out of your brake disc, it is best to check it periodically for condition. If signs of wear and tear are evident, it is a good move to replace it.
