Thread: General question: Why are bigger brakes better?
View Single Post
Old 10-26-2010, 02:33 PM   #17 (permalink)
Red__Zed
A True Z Fanatic
 
Red__Zed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: window seat
Posts: 28,940
Drives: Mostly on two wheels
Rep Power: 120
Red__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond reputeRed__Zed has a reputation beyond repute
Default
Quote:
Originally Posted by RCZ View Post
Actually... he is more right than you guys are. Braking is 100% limited by the grip of your tires. He is also right that the pressure is spread over a larger surface which makes braking modulation easier as well as heat dissipation. The materials used are also part of the mix, sport brakes tend to have less flex to them and are designed to transfer more of that pressure to the rotor.

Another thing to keep in mind axeman71 is that you're making an assumption that bigger = better and thats not true. AP Racing 6-pot brakes are better than a lot of those 8 pot show brakes that take up half the rotor.

Also, I dont want to repeat what everyone else already said, but more surface area to create friction with..
I came in here to say most of that, except the last part. Friction is independent of surface area, at least with most materials.

Besides the heat dissipation, bigger rotors allow for bigger calipers, with bigger components that are usually more easily modulated.
Red__Zed is offline   Reply With Quote