Which part of a brake system is typically used for stopping a vehicle?

The correct answer is brake pads, which play a critical role in the operation of a brake system. In disc brake systems, brake pads are positioned on either side of the rotor. When the brake pedal is pressed, hydraulic pressure forces the calipers to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor. This friction between the brake pads and the rotor is what ultimately slows down and stops the vehicle.

The design of brake pads allows them to effectively compress against the rotor surface, maximizing friction and heat dissipation during the braking process. Their material composition is also essential, as it impacts performance, wear, and the ability to handle high temperatures generated during braking.

The other components mentioned, such as rotors, brake shoes, and calipers, also serve important functions in the braking system, but they do not directly initiate the stopping process like brake pads do. Rotors provide the surface against which the pads apply pressure; brake shoes are used primarily in drum brake systems; and calipers are the components that house the brake pads and apply force to them, but it is ultimately the pads that create the friction necessary for stopping the vehicle.