Brake linearity is a desired, even correlation between brake pedal position and the resulting braking action.
Linear braking performance is characterized by increases and decreases in the braking force that are proportional to the application and release of the brake pedal. Brakes that grab at any point in the pedal travel — or fail to release evenly as the pedal is released — are nonlinear.
Linearity is necessary for smooth and predictable braking in any vehicle, but it’s particularly important in vehicles not equipped with ABS. In such vehicles, it is the driver’s job to modulate the brakes during a panic stop in order to prevent lockup and a loss of control. Doing so with nonlinear brakes is difficult, and in the worst cases, drivers may experience frequent lockup — or, by trying to prevent lockup, might not stop as short as they should.
Information for this was taken from the Cars.com’s glossary, written by Joe Wiesenfelder.
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