Vented discs and quad piston callipers experience?

[timrw81]

Evening all,

Excited to say I’ve just put my name down for one of the new Sigma Caterhams

They come as standard with vented discs and quad piston callipers, as well as an updated master cylinder. Can anyone who’s had experience of the standard setup vs the above comment on the differences? I’ve read lots of people saying they’re completely unnecessary and just add unsprung weight. If that’s the case, why are they ever used / marketed as being desirable?

Thanks,
Tim

[BertBert]

Well done on the choice, they look great.

For the front brakes, the "big fronts" are the norm really. Whether they are needed or not it's another question. For normal road driving almost certainly not, but there is lots about that car that is not "needed". The extra bhp is certainly not needed.

But as an overall package it looks great and I'd certainly not think of down speccing it.

[framerateuk]

Never used the 'stadard' setup, but I can tell you lots of people complain of a spongy brake feel, particulary on track with the standard master cylinder, and end up upgrading it.

The 4-pots are brilliant on trackdays to be honest, they always feel solid. I suspect the feel of the setup will win a lot over.

[Panamax]

timrw81 said:

I ve read lots of people saying they re completely unnecessary and just add unsprung weight. If that s the case, why are they ever used / marketed as being desirable?

A lot of "big brake" stuff is appearance and bravado, especially where a very light car like the Caterham is involved.

Are bigger brakes potentially more powerful? Yes.
Do you need more powerful brakes? That's a completely different question.

[Nothingtoseehere]

Panamax said:

A lot of "big brake" stuff is appearance and bravado, especially where a very light car like the Caterham is involved.

Are bigger brakes potentially more powerful? Yes.
Do you need more powerful brakes? That's a completely different question.

They're only of benefit on a Caterham for any difference in feel/modulation they provide. Not necessary for cooling on the font.

The rear brakes on the other hand are a problem - nowhere for the heat to go.

[timrw81]

Thanks for the replies. Bert, the only reason I’d ‘down-spec’ is that I want it to go in a diet before it leaves the factory, not after. Don’t think 500kg is on the cards but 520 would be nice. To that end, windscreen and weather gear will be ditched, as will wiper motor. But such things are for another thread.

[BertBert]

timrw81 said:

Thanks for the replies. Bert, the only reason I d down-spec is that I want it to go in a diet before it leaves the factory, not after. Don t think 500kg is on the cards but 520 would be nice. To that end, windscreen and weather gear will be ditched, as will wiper motor. But such things are for another thread.

Fair enough and understood.

[BertBert]

framerateuk said:

Never used the 'stadard' setup, but I can tell you lots of people complain of a spongy brake feel, particulary on track with the standard master cylinder, and end up upgrading it.

The 4-pots are brilliant on trackdays to be honest, they always feel solid. I suspect the feel of the setup will win a lot over.

I've used the standard fronts (on track) and they are fine for track days. I had spongy feel which was completely banished by change of pedal to the high ratio one. Is that the right way round? The one with less travel that you have to push harder

[Drumster]

I have the standard 2-pot brakes but with the AP uprated master cylinder and the car is now mainly used for sprinting in hillclimbing, pedal is firm and I have no issues stopping a 540kg Zetec engined Caterham.....

[framerateuk]

BertBert said:

I've used the standard fronts (on track) and they are fine for track days. I had spongy feel which was completely banished by change of pedal to the high ratio one. Is that the right way round? The one with less travel that you have to push harder

Makes sense to me!

My car had a really strange setup, someone had used a short/high effort pedal for the clutch.

I always felt it was a little heavy (especially when people have said the sigma has a light clutch). When i got an upgraded clutch and flywheel, I could hardly press the pedal (no joke, I actually had sore ankles driving back from the garage!). Switched the pedal for the 'correct' one, and it feels the same as before.

I can well imagine that changing the brake pedal would make a big difference!