Abstract
The braking ability of a vehicle is one of the most significant safety elements in automotive vehicle design today. Braking performance is critical in the avoidance of accidents and almost every single accident involves the application of the vehicle brakes. The development of improved braking systems over the years has greatly improved the vehicle safety performance and it is well documented that the number of deaths attributed to the failure of braking systems is a very small number in percentage terms in most countries of the world. Braking systems however are a contributor in nearly all accidents and therefore the performance of the vehicle brake system compared to its original design is of particular importance to regulatory authorities.