CateraMV6 wrote on 22. Mar 2010 at 18:47:
Brakes are designed to convert kinetic energy into heat via friction between the brakes and the rotor.
So any of the pad you choose will be significantly larger compared to stock.
Clamping forces from the larger twin caliper wtih 44mm pistons will provide the necessary force to squeeze the larger pads onto the rotors.
As a result you have more heat dissipation due to the larger pad/caliper combo and more effective braking.
the actual size of the pad doesn't affect the braking force
per se, it does, however, make the pad much more stable and more resistant to fade. In addition, the pad lasts much longer.
the key elements affecting the force are connected with friction and torque. Torque depends on a lever - so the further the piston is away from the centre of the disc, the higher the braking force you can generate - this is why bigger brake discs are better (as are bigger wheels for that matter). Friction, meanwhile is connected to the clamping force.
certain formula racing series here in Europe used the Omega / Catera rear brake caliper on the front for many years and they have tiny pads.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this mod is bad, far from it - seeking to improve braking performance is a great thing to do. I'm really just highlighting that there's more to increasing braking performance than a bigger caliper at one end of the car
I'm just off to find out why my brake calculator can't cope with calipers having two pistons both on the same side
and then I'll maybe have some predicted deceleration figures to post.
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