Editing Brakes

{{copyright}} '''Preamble''' This article will introduce you to brakes and the components that are involved as they apply to the automotive world. We will try to break down the brake system in to its proper categories so that you can understand them better and apply that knowledge. Many people ask frequently about braking systems, and what is better and what is usable. Everyone wants to go faster, handle better, braking is often ignored, mainly do to the price of major upgrades. After research and some experience most people will find that, big brake kits, slotted, cross-drilled rotors have not made a huge dent in 60-0 or 70-0 stopping distances. In this article we will look at what is important in stopping a vehicle and what factors are involved. The reader should remember the concepts behind braking in this article. These concepts are universal, no matter what vehicle, we talk of, improving stopping distance is a matter of applying applications based on driving habits and driving conditions. Read on and find what you need to start stopping faster. The following are terms you should know and have been supplied by brake system experts. '''CALIPERS''' In general, there are two types of calipers, floating and fixed. FLOATING Usually have, one or two pistons located on the inboard side of the calipers and squeeze the pads against the turning rotor using a thru-bolt as a guide for the pads. FIXED As the name implies are fixed and do not move. they are located along the caliper body on either side and there may be as many as six pistons that apply pressure to the pads. They are usually a high performance type of brake, IE. Baer. '''ROTORS''' [[Image:Disk_brake_close_up.jpg‎]] Typical disc brake and rotor setup Many asked about the cross drilled rotors and how they help cool the brake system. Well here is the short answer, air cools them, and without ducting running to your brake discs they are hardly more effective than your standard ventilated disc. The slotted rotors are for gassing, when the pads reach their operating temps or higher they start to gas or breakdown and the slots are there to allow the gas to escape. [[Image:Disc_vented.jpg‎]] Vented Disc [[Image:Slotted_vented.gif‎]] Slotted and vented disc [[Image:Slotted_x_drilled.jpg‎]] Slotted and cross drilled disc So what cross drilled rotors do is reduce surface area decrease co-efficient of friction and are more prone to thermal shock, and cracking unless, you have a specialized braking system using, special brake fluid, stainless steel brake lines, venting all the necessary items to aid in convection As far as cross drilled rotors go, the advent of carbon metallic friction materials with their increased temperatures and thermal shock characteristics ended the day of the drilled disc in professional racing. Typically in original equipment road car applications these holes are cast then finished machined to provide the best possible conditions by which to resist cracking in use. But they will crack eventually under the circumstances described in another section. Properly designed, drilled discs tend to operate cooler than non-drilled ventilated discs of the same design due the higher flow rates through the vents from the supplemental inlets and increased surface area in the hole. That's right, inlets, the flow is into the hole and out through the vent to the OD of the disc. If discs are to be drilled, the external edges of the holes must be chamfered (or, better yet, radiused) and should also be peened. '''DRUMS''' Typical Parts of a Drum Brake Setup[[Image:Drum_brake.gif‎]] The picture below shows a typical set of Hot Rod Brakes which utilizes an adjustable proportioning valve, residual pressure valve, master cylinder, and brake booster. This is a system from an under-floor brake setup. [[Image:Hot_rod_brake_system.jpg]] '''PROPORTIONING VALVES''' An adjustable fluid valve that allows you to set the amount of pressure being applied to a wheel cylinder by increasing or decreasing the fluid by way of a adjusting valve. '''RESIDUAL PRESSURE VALVES''' A one way valve that allows fluid to flow through it at any pressure, but limits the amount of return pressure to a certain amount by way of a spring loaded check-valve. Usually comes in 10 lbs. (red color) for drum brakes and 2 - 3 lbs. (blue color) for disc type brakes. These valves are usually used in under-floor systems where the calipers are higher than the master cylinder and for compensation of return spring tension in drum systems. RP valves eliminate excessive brake pedal travel in both systems '''MASTER CYLINDERS''' '''BRAKE BOOSTERS''' '''FITTINGS''' [[File:Brake_fittings.jpg]] '''BRAKE LINES''' [[Category:Brakes]]

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