Disc Brakes - can someone xplain them to me?

Shan2nu · 25th March 2004, 14:09

I'd like to know the difference between normal disc brakes, carbon fibre disc brakes and ceramic disc brakes.

What r their charetaristics?

Which is the most effective in terms of sheer braking power?

Do ceramic brakes need to be warmed up before use?

When we say Ceramic or Carbon Fibre, which part of the braking system exactly are these materials made of? Is it the Disc or the brake pads or both?

Regards...
Shan2nu

v12 · 25th March 2004, 14:31

i guess the discs are made of the material. Ceramic disc brakes can withstand very high temperatures. Thats why they are more efficient and effective.

toyota · 25th March 2004, 17:38

1) Ceramics can take more heat ( Heat Resistant )
2) The more it can take heat , the more it is efficient
3) It is also eco- friendly and brake disc and pads are regulation parts.
4) It can also take Hard Braking and Continuous braking compared to normal Disc

Sam · 28th March 2004, 16:26

The effectiveness of Disc brakes is better than the old Drums which we find on most rear wheels of on the indian road cars. the princilpe of Disc brakes is that a Caliper presses on a Disc which is attached to a wheel.
The use of carbon fibre and ceramic brakes have 2 major disadvantages and one major advantage.
Advantage: When they work, they work really well.
BUT
Disadvantage: 1) you have to be in near racing conditions to get them to work coz their working temperature is not like that of normal Discs. They have to be heated up and have to stay hot. That means you will have to be braking from High speeds conatantly to keep them up to temperature.
2) the other disadvantage is they are Really expensive compared to normal discs.

What i suggest is if you looking for better braking try the vented and cross drilled type of brakes. These are ones with grooves in them or holes allowing for the brake dust from the brake pad to be be cleared off allowing better grip on clean discs. Increasing the size of the disc is not suggested unless you are increasing the horsepower and the wheels diameter, well its a whole science.

Shan2nu · 28th March 2004, 20:13

I'm not planning to change the discs. I';m very happy with the braking of my Vtec. It's the tyres that spoil the party, but even then the car is pretty stable.

Regards...
Shan2nu

Edmund · 6th March 2006, 23:22

How difficult is it to retrofit disc brakes on the rear wheels?

karthik247 · 7th March 2006, 00:30

Carbon fibre and ceramic brakes are very reliable and last longer. They don't wear out like the normal brakes...

nitrous · 7th March 2006, 01:24

Quote:

How difficult is it to retrofit disc brakes on the rear wheels?

Very much. Unless they're bolt-on, quite complicated.

sbasak · 7th March 2006, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

Very much. Unless they're bolt-on, quite complicated.

That's the reason why most cars are fitted with drum brakes in rear wheels. Handbrake operates on rear wheels and it is really complex to link rear disk brakes with handbrake.

binz · 7th March 2006, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by karthik247

Carbon fibre and ceramic brakes are very reliable and last longer. They don't wear out like the normal brakes...

Sorry karthik;the carbonfibre brakes are very reliable but are more expensive(duh!) and wear out sooner than the normal discs.Dead sure about this but not about the ceramic ones.

binz

nitrous · 7th March 2006, 16:17

Quote:

Carbon fibre and ceramic brakes are very reliable and last longer. They don't wear out like the normal brakes...

Yeah, at US$1000 for a set of pads.

kb100 · 7th March 2006, 17:16

What would the best way to upgrade the braking? Isnt the entire suspension a part of braking efficiency??

nitrous · 8th March 2006, 01:36

Quote:

What would the best way to upgrade the braking?

Softer,wider tyres.

Rehaan · 8th March 2006, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbasak

it is really complex to link rear disk brakes with handbrake.

Not really true.

A regular drum type handrake / emergency brake can be housed inside the disc, so to speak.

Check out this pic, it will give you a clearer idea...

cya
R

ps - kb100, i would say upgrading your tyres from stock ones takes you 70% of the way in terms of what you can do to make your brakes better...

karthik247 · 8th March 2006, 15:19

They might be expensive, but u will obviously have to pay a lot more if ur looking for way better breaking power than the normal ones. It would be useless in India ofcourse, but if ur a guy who takes the car to the track u'll be more than happy to have them. No fading or less breaking what-so-ever.

25th March 2004, 14:09	#1
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	I'd like to know the difference between normal disc brakes, carbon fibre disc brakes and ceramic disc brakes. What r their charetaristics? Which is the most effective in terms of sheer braking power? Do ceramic brakes need to be warmed up before use? When we say Ceramic or Carbon Fibre, which part of the braking system exactly are these materials made of? Is it the Disc or the brake pads or both? Regards... Shan2nu
	() Thanks

25th March 2004, 14:31	#2
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,213 Times View My Garage	i guess the discs are made of the material. Ceramic disc brakes can withstand very high temperatures. Thats why they are more efficient and effective.
	() Thanks

25th March 2004, 17:38	#3
toyota BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: bangalore Posts: 148 Thanked: 3 Times	1) Ceramics can take more heat ( Heat Resistant ) 2) The more it can take heat , the more it is efficient 3) It is also eco- friendly and brake disc and pads are regulation parts. 4) It can also take Hard Braking and Continuous braking compared to normal Disc
	() Thanks

28th March 2004, 16:26	#4
Sam BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 114 Thanked: 3 Times	The effectiveness of Disc brakes is better than the old Drums which we find on most rear wheels of on the indian road cars. the princilpe of Disc brakes is that a Caliper presses on a Disc which is attached to a wheel. The use of carbon fibre and ceramic brakes have 2 major disadvantages and one major advantage. Advantage: When they work, they work really well. BUT Disadvantage: 1) you have to be in near racing conditions to get them to work coz their working temperature is not like that of normal Discs. They have to be heated up and have to stay hot. That means you will have to be braking from High speeds conatantly to keep them up to temperature. 2) the other disadvantage is they are Really expensive compared to normal discs. What i suggest is if you looking for better braking try the vented and cross drilled type of brakes. These are ones with grooves in them or holes allowing for the brake dust from the brake pad to be be cleared off allowing better grip on clean discs. Increasing the size of the disc is not suggested unless you are increasing the horsepower and the wheels diameter, well its a whole science.
	() Thanks

28th March 2004, 20:13	#5
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	I'm not planning to change the discs. I';m very happy with the braking of my Vtec. It's the tyres that spoil the party, but even then the car is pretty stable. Regards... Shan2nu
	() Thanks

6th March 2006, 23:22	#6
Edmund BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Stuttgart, Germany. Posts: 830 Thanked: 163 Times View My Garage	Disc brakes on the rear wheels? How difficult is it to retrofit disc brakes on the rear wheels?
	() Thanks

7th March 2006, 00:30	#7
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	Carbon fibre and ceramic brakes are very reliable and last longer. They don't wear out like the normal brakes...
	() Thanks

7th March 2006, 17:16	#12
kb100 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangy Boy! Posts: 1,555 Thanked: 21 Times	What would the best way to upgrade the braking? Isnt the entire suspension a part of braking efficiency??
	() Thanks

8th March 2006, 15:19	#15
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	They might be expensive, but u will obviously have to pay a lot more if ur looking for way better breaking power than the normal ones. It would be useless in India ofcourse, but if ur a guy who takes the car to the track u'll be more than happy to have them. No fading or less breaking what-so-ever.
	() Thanks