Front to rear brake temps?
Discussion
So I've only noticed recently that my rear brakes seem to be hotter after normal road driving than the fronts. I've never really compared front to rears on the road or on track but it's pretty obvious from a palm/finger test that the rears seems to run hotter and is making mw question if its OK for the next track day.
It's a fwd hot hatch (golf gti) so much more front bias than rear but the fronts have vented discs, bigger pads, bigger calipers, more cooling via a bit of minor d.i.y brake ducting while the rears are just a smaller solid disc with a smaller caliper and pad and less cooling. Maybe this is the reason the rears seem hotter but then again as I've never really checked or noticed before I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed different front to rear temps in favour of the rear brakes?
Just to add the calipers are new, fully functioning, new guide pins bolts, everything wiped down freshly greased etc. And the handbrake cable is not too tight making the rears engage unnecessarily.
It's a fwd hot hatch (golf gti) so much more front bias than rear but the fronts have vented discs, bigger pads, bigger calipers, more cooling via a bit of minor d.i.y brake ducting while the rears are just a smaller solid disc with a smaller caliper and pad and less cooling. Maybe this is the reason the rears seem hotter but then again as I've never really checked or noticed before I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed different front to rear temps in favour of the rear brakes?
Just to add the calipers are new, fully functioning, new guide pins bolts, everything wiped down freshly greased etc. And the handbrake cable is not too tight making the rears engage unnecessarily.
Krikkit said:
I would slacken the handbrake off just to be sure, eliminate the simple things first 
Second, spend a tenner and get yourself an infrared thermometer, that way you've got a quantitative way to measure the temps.
It's quite slack already, more slack than its meant to be currently as I didn't tighten it up enough but still works OK.Second, spend a tenner and get yourself an infrared thermometer, that way you've got a quantitative way to measure the temps.
Good point on the temp gun, get some real numbers going and stop relying on the burnt finger testing haha.
as you said, fronts are larger and vented, rears are smaller, solid discs. i wouldnt worry that the rears appear to be hotter after use.
when you take it to a trackday i suspect the fronts will get just as hot when you start using them hard.
I'd only worry if one side of the car is noticably hotter than the rest as that could indicate a sticking caliper, but otherwise i'd trust that the manufacturer knows what they're doing when it comes to braking.
when you take it to a trackday i suspect the fronts will get just as hot when you start using them hard.
I'd only worry if one side of the car is noticably hotter than the rest as that could indicate a sticking caliper, but otherwise i'd trust that the manufacturer knows what they're doing when it comes to braking.
have the brakes ever been worked on at the back? i.e. had the pads or discs replaced as different materials and quality of workmanship all play their part in the overall quality of the braking system.
Check for dragging calliper as well.
My dads Mitsubishi was starting to tarnish the paint on the offside rear wheel and was wearing out the tyre and the brake pad. When I jacked it up the wheel was stuck and difficult to turn. Sorted with a new calliper. Car is on 80k miles.
Check for dragging calliper as well.
My dads Mitsubishi was starting to tarnish the paint on the offside rear wheel and was wearing out the tyre and the brake pad. When I jacked it up the wheel was stuck and difficult to turn. Sorted with a new calliper. Car is on 80k miles.
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