How are brakes different on automatic vs manual transmission?

August 15, 2022

Since automatic and manual cars have such different transmissions, do they have different brakes too or are they the exact same? Let’s find out.

Automatic vs manual transmission

First, let’s clarify the difference between an automatic and a manual transmission. 

Automatic transmission
In an automatic transmission vehicle, the driver is only responsible for pressing the gas and brake pedals while the car switches gears on its own, according to the speed you are going and the road conditions. Many drivers today find automatic cars easier to drive, especially for long commutes, highway driving, and if you live in an area with a lot of hills (which could be painful on a manual). 

Manual transmission
In a manual transmission, the driver is responsible for operating the clutch pedal and shifting gears on the stick shift. Many drivers enjoy the benefits of having a manual car because they feel more in control of the vehicle, generally have better fuel efficiency, the manual cars are sometimes more affordable, and they are often less likely to be stolen since not as many people today know how to drive a stick shift. 

Automatic versus manual brakes

The big difference between braking in an automatic vs a manual transmission vehicle is something called engine braking. 

What is engine braking?
When you brake in an automatic car, your brake pads grab onto the spinning rotor and slow down the vehicle. 

In a manual car, you can release the throttle pedal while still being in gear, and let your engine absorb the extra energy and slow down — because you are not applying any acceleration, you will naturally lose speed, but remain in the typically lower gear that you’ve already chosen. This is normally done at lower speeds since engine braking at a high speed can redline your vehicle and potentially damage your engine. 

Do brakes last longer on manual cars?
Engine braking has a few benefits that manual car drivers enjoy — because you are not using the brakes actively, their wear slows down so your brakes actually last you longer you maintain their effectiveness. Engine braking also gives you more control of the braking.

To summarize, the brakes themselves are not different — both manuals and automatics have brake pads, callipers, rotors, and the whole lot, but what’s different is the way people brake when driving these two different types of transmissions. In an automatic, always make sure to get frequent inspections so your brakes don’t get too worn out.