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BPS

Barometric pressure sensor or back pressure sensor

BPT

Back pressure transducer

BPV

Back pressure valve

Br

Bromine An element with the atomic number of 35

Bra

A paint protector made from vinyl fabric with a soft, padded back side that covers all or part of a vehicle's front end. Some bras cover only the painted leading edge, while others cover everything from the front bumper up to the first few inches of the hood. Some designs, often called hood masks, extend up the center of the hood for a unique styling touch. Bras can be custom ordered to accommodate modifications made to a vehicle, such as the addition of fog lights or a front spoiler. Also known as a front mask.

Bracket

A component that holds an accessory in place. Companies often provide special mounting brackets with auxiliary lighting. And polished billet brackets that hold an alternator or other engine accessory can be used to dress up a vehicle's engine compartment.

Bracket Race

A handicapped form of drag racing in which a much slower car can race against a much quicker one, and each has an equal chance of winning. Each driver must dial in the time (in seconds) that he or she thinks it will take for his vehicle to reach the finish line. If the driver crosses the finish line quicker than his dial-in time, he "breaks out" and loses. If both drivers break out, the one who breaks out by less wins. If neither driver breaks out or redlights, the one who crosses the finish line first wins. As opposed to heads-up racing.

Bracket Racing

Brain Bucket

A helmet.

Brain Fade

A mental lapse often used as an explanation why a driver losses control of a race car.

Brake

1. A system used to stop or slow a vehicle and/or prevent it from moving when stopped or parked. 2. British term for station wagon.

Brake Actuator

A unit that converts hydraulic pressure, air pressure, vacuum, electrical current, or another form of energy to a force that applies a brake.

Brake Anchor

A pivot pin on the brake backing plate against which the brake shoe bears.

Brake Assembly

An assembly of the components of a brake system, including its mechanism for the application of friction forces.

Brake Band

A round, flat metal band with a friction surface on its inner diameter; used primarily in emergency brake system.

Brake Bias

An excessive brake force at either end of the vehicle causing the brakes at that end to lock before the other end, often leading to loss of control.

Brake Bleeding

Procedure for removing air from lines of a hydraulic brake system.

Brake Booster

A device that uses a supplementary power source to reduce pedal force in a hydraulic brake system.

Brake Caliper

The part of a disk brake system that converts hydraulic pressure back to mechanical force that applies the pads to the rotor. The caliper is mounted on the suspension or axle housing and contains a hydraulic piston and the brake pads.

Brake Chamber

A unit in which a diaphragm converts pressure to mechanical force for actuation of a brake.