brake calipers by miguel a. recio

BRAKE CALIPERSBRAKE CALIPERS

INDEXINDEX1.1. IntroductionIntroduction2.2. Brake Caliper ToolBrake Caliper Tool3.3. Motorcycle Brake CalipersMotorcycle Brake Calipers4.4. Truck Brake CalipersTruck Brake Calipers5.5. Performance Brake CalipersPerformance Brake Calipers

1.INTRODUCTION:1.INTRODUCTION: Brake calipers are essential to your Brake calipers are essential to your

car's ability to stop. car's ability to stop. Most cars today have disc brakes, at Most cars today have disc brakes, at

least for the front wheels. least for the front wheels. But a lot of cars and trucks are now But a lot of cars and trucks are now

using disc brakes in the rear, too. using disc brakes in the rear, too.

1.1 1.1 What makes disc What makes disc brakes?brakes?

The job of the caliper is to slow the car's The job of the caliper is to slow the car's wheels by creating friction with the rotors. wheels by creating friction with the rotors.

When you step on the brake, brake fluid When you step on the brake, brake fluid from the master cylinder creates hydraulic from the master cylinder creates hydraulic pressure in the brake caliper, the brake pressure in the brake caliper, the brake caliper fits over the rotor like a clamp, caliper fits over the rotor like a clamp, forcing the pads against the rotor. The forcing the pads against the rotor. The brake pads have high-friction surfaces and brake pads have high-friction surfaces and serve to slow the rotor down or even bring serve to slow the rotor down or even bring it to a complete halt. it to a complete halt.

Operation of the brake Operation of the brake caliper caliper

1.2 1.2 Comparison between brake Comparison between brake disc and drum brakesdisc and drum brakes

Drum Brakes:Drum Brakes: Old cars and trucks Old cars and trucks

use themuse them Loss of braking Loss of braking

powerpower

Brake Disc:Brake Disc: More easily More easily

ventilated ventilated Heat doesn't tend Heat doesn't tend

to build up quite as to build up quite as fastfast

Are used in modern Are used in modern vehicles vehicles

1.3 1.3 Types of brake calipersTypes of brake calipersThere are two main types of calipers: There are two main types of calipers: Floating calipers:Floating calipers: move in and out move in and out

relative to the rotor and have one or relative to the rotor and have one or two pistons only on the inboard side two pistons only on the inboard side of the rotor. of the rotor.

Fixed calipers:Fixed calipers: don't move, but don't move, but rather have pistons arranged on rather have pistons arranged on opposing sides of the rotor. opposing sides of the rotor.

2. Brake Caliper Tool2. Brake Caliper ToolBrake pads don't last forever. Every Brake pads don't last forever. Every

time the pads in a disc brake system time the pads in a disc brake system come in contact with the spinning come in contact with the spinning rotor, they wear down a little. rotor, they wear down a little. Gradually, these brake parts (the Gradually, these brake parts (the pads) become thinner and thinner. pads) become thinner and thinner.

This is where special brake pad tools This is where special brake pad tools come in. come in.

2. Brake Caliper Tool2. Brake Caliper ToolThe job of a The job of a brake caliper toolbrake caliper tool is to is to

retract the piston or pistons back into retract the piston or pistons back into the caliper so that the brake pads the caliper so that the brake pads can be easily removed and replaced. can be easily removed and replaced.

3. Motorcycle Brake Calipers3. Motorcycle Brake CalipersMotorcycles are Motorcycles are

smaller than smaller than automobiles and automobiles and therefore need less therefore need less stopping power. stopping power. Nonetheless, the Nonetheless, the ability to slow down ability to slow down or stop is in some or stop is in some ways even more ways even more important on a important on a motorcycle than in motorcycle than in other vehicles. other vehicles.

3.1 3.1 What kind of brake calipers What kind of brake calipers does a motorcycle need? does a motorcycle need?

The answer is relatively simple -- small The answer is relatively simple -- small and light. motorcycle brake calipers and light. motorcycle brake calipers must be kept small to avoid weighing must be kept small to avoid weighing down the bike and getting in the way down the bike and getting in the way of the rider. Motorcycle brake of the rider. Motorcycle brake calipers are commonly made of calipers are commonly made of lightweight materials such as lightweight materials such as aluminum, which also has the aluminum, which also has the added advantage of being rustproof. added advantage of being rustproof.

Motorcycle brake calipersMotorcycle brake calipers

4. 4. Truck Brake CalipersThere's no denying it: Trucks and SUVs are There's no denying it: Trucks and SUVs are

big. This means that trucks and SUVs need big. This means that trucks and SUVs need more stopping power than a car. more stopping power than a car.

4. 4. Truck Brake CalipersThe stopping power of a caliper is The stopping power of a caliper is

determined by its determined by its clamping forceclamping force. . A caliper with a greater clamping force A caliper with a greater clamping force

is capable of slowing or stopping a is capable of slowing or stopping a vehicle easier and faster than a caliper vehicle easier and faster than a caliper that has a lower clamping force.that has a lower clamping force.

Good ventilation in the caliper is Good ventilation in the caliper is essential for continuous, consistent essential for continuous, consistent brake performance. brake performance.

5. 5. Performance Brake Calipers

Disc brakes were originally developed Disc brakes were originally developed for race cars. for race cars.

5.1 I5.1 Improvements in brake mprovements in brake calipers calipers

Bigger pistons More pistons Less heat retention Differential bore calipers

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONAll of these technologies can increase All of these technologies can increase

the braking power provided by a the braking power provided by a caliper. For smaller cars that typically caliper. For smaller cars that typically aren't driven at high speeds, this aren't driven at high speeds, this extra braking power isn't really extra braking power isn't really necessary. However, the faster and necessary. However, the faster and more powerful a vehicle is, the more more powerful a vehicle is, the more it will benefit from high-performance it will benefit from high-performance calipers. calipers.

BibliographyBibliography www.howstuffworks.com www.wikipedia.org www.ngbrakedisc.com www.hayesbrake.com

THE ENDTHE ENDThanks for coming Thanks for coming