Might be a really stupid question...
Discussion
As title says, the answer may be obvious but I just don't get it.
Why do people fit bigger brakes to their car when they are not tracking it?
Then when they are fitted claim 'it stops really well'.
My VTS has standard brakes and can lock the wheels at any speed any time ... so they braking force is being limited by the tyres grip and not the brakes themselves.
Why do people fit bigger brakes to their car when they are not tracking it?
Then when they are fitted claim 'it stops really well'.
My VTS has standard brakes and can lock the wheels at any speed any time ... so they braking force is being limited by the tyres grip and not the brakes themselves.
God you lot talk alot of b
ks
When braking you should apply pressure progressivly to get the weight onto the front wheels allowing you to apply the maximum braking force
If you slam the brakes on, in almost any car the front will lose grip because the front is not loaded with weight
And as for brake fade, you would be struggling with almost any modern road car to cook the brakes on any normal road, yes on track maybe
ksWhen braking you should apply pressure progressivly to get the weight onto the front wheels allowing you to apply the maximum braking force
If you slam the brakes on, in almost any car the front will lose grip because the front is not loaded with weight
And as for brake fade, you would be struggling with almost any modern road car to cook the brakes on any normal road, yes on track maybe
Edited by Dontlift on Friday 21st January 12:14
Simply put, it's a fashion thing. Cars look a bit silly with massive wheels and tiny little brake discs (or even drums) cowering behind them. I think it's also a bit of one upmanship, "I drive so fast I had to upgrade the brakes".
But yeah, any modern car will be fine with stock brakes on the road; unless you are hooning it down a mountain or something.
Just been thinking. Two other possible reasons. If their standard brakes were in poor condition (especially if the brake fluid is old/full of air or the flexi hoses are perished) then putting new ones on will feel like an improvment, also I can see how bigger brakes would give more feel. You could have softer brake pads for example.
But yeah, any modern car will be fine with stock brakes on the road; unless you are hooning it down a mountain or something.
Just been thinking. Two other possible reasons. If their standard brakes were in poor condition (especially if the brake fluid is old/full of air or the flexi hoses are perished) then putting new ones on will feel like an improvment, also I can see how bigger brakes would give more feel. You could have softer brake pads for example.
Edited by varsas on Friday 21st January 12:26
You are making yourself sound like a proper amateur driver! If you are braking hard enough to lock the wheels you are either braking far too hard for the conditions or braking far too late ie panic braking.
When people upgrade brakes there is far more to it than just putting bigger discs on. Bigger discs do increase braking power as there is often more pad area in contract with the brake disc and because of the leverage effect of moving the calliper further from the inside of the wheel the braking force is applied stronger.
BUT having big discs isn't always going to make a huge difference on there own. Usually having callipers with more pistons is better as more force can be applied to the pads to move them to towared the disc. Having a larger master cylinder is good because it allows you to move more fluid with less movement of the pedal. Finally having decent brake fluid makes a HUGE difference to the brakes performance, usually when brakes fade it is caused by the fluid overheating, having fluid which can take higher temperatures will allow you to brake harder for longer.
All of these factors combined make much better brakes. To give you a real life example i increased the size of my discs from 256mm>280mm, the MC from 21mm>23mm and changed to DOT5.1 fluid and my brakes feel far better than standard cars which inpires far more conifidence especially on track!!
dave
When people upgrade brakes there is far more to it than just putting bigger discs on. Bigger discs do increase braking power as there is often more pad area in contract with the brake disc and because of the leverage effect of moving the calliper further from the inside of the wheel the braking force is applied stronger.
BUT having big discs isn't always going to make a huge difference on there own. Usually having callipers with more pistons is better as more force can be applied to the pads to move them to towared the disc. Having a larger master cylinder is good because it allows you to move more fluid with less movement of the pedal. Finally having decent brake fluid makes a HUGE difference to the brakes performance, usually when brakes fade it is caused by the fluid overheating, having fluid which can take higher temperatures will allow you to brake harder for longer.
All of these factors combined make much better brakes. To give you a real life example i increased the size of my discs from 256mm>280mm, the MC from 21mm>23mm and changed to DOT5.1 fluid and my brakes feel far better than standard cars which inpires far more conifidence especially on track!!
dave
I think what the OP was saying (and I agree) is that you don't need to be able to apply more force to the brake discs. Once you are at the point where you can lock the wheels how does more braking force help at all?
Bigger brakes resist fade, but if you aren't getting fade in the first place it doesn't matter, so bigger brakes don't help. Remember, we are talking about road driving. Where you getting brake fade, on the road before you upgraded? If so what car do you have?
I see your point about increasing feel though.
Bigger brakes resist fade, but if you aren't getting fade in the first place it doesn't matter, so bigger brakes don't help. Remember, we are talking about road driving. Where you getting brake fade, on the road before you upgraded? If so what car do you have?
I see your point about increasing feel though.
Edited by varsas on Friday 21st January 12:32
Dontlift said:
as for brake fade, you would be struggling with almost any modern road car to cook the brakes on any normal road, yes on track maybe
Guess you've never done a spot of spirited driving in a Galant VR-4 on standard brakes? Even on fresh (but bedded in) discs/pads after a couple of stops the fade is horrific and you'd be better sticking your foot out the door on the tarmac to stop it.Most VR-4 owners end up upgrading the brakes, but then its a quick car that weighs the same as a house so demolishes the brakes in no time. Probably the exception not the rule though, haven't had a problem with any other car I've had.
I had a rover 214 a few years ago
On a journey London - Somerset with lots of 70mph - 20mph on the A303 after about 20 mins the brake would just fade so badly it was scary
After a while the OEM brake disc warped, looked at new discs, from Rover I think it was about £250 for the pair
Checked online and I could get Black Diamond Grooved and Drilled discs for £180
With Greenstuff pads again coming in cheaper than OEM it was a no brainer and they didn't fade anywhere near as much
On a journey London - Somerset with lots of 70mph - 20mph on the A303 after about 20 mins the brake would just fade so badly it was scary
After a while the OEM brake disc warped, looked at new discs, from Rover I think it was about £250 for the pair
Checked online and I could get Black Diamond Grooved and Drilled discs for £180
With Greenstuff pads again coming in cheaper than OEM it was a no brainer and they didn't fade anywhere near as much
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