Tag Archives: Ductile Iron Castings

Disc Brakes – part 1

Both the material for the disc brakes and their construction vary depending on the car. The “classic” disc brake system has a fixed caliper with a piston and together surrounds the disc. By pressing the brake pedal the piston is pushing the pads and those the disc converting the braking energy into heat.

When the brake pedal is not pressed, the brake pads are very close to the disk (from 0.1 to 0.15 mm.) so with the slightest touch of the pedal the response is immediate. Apart from the “ordinary” disks, there are also ventilated which are manufactured in various types. The most common form of ventilated discs is one consisting of two parallel discs which are joined by ribs which are designed to quickly transfer the temperature in the environment.

Others types are slotted, engraved or the combination of these two, who have the advantage of being lighter and have easier heat dissipation.

The construction material of most discs is cast iron. This has low cost and good performance, but is heavy. This led manufacturers to look for new materials. Thus for example carbon fibers are about 4 times lighter than cast iron and have a better coefficient of friction and are highly resistant to high temperatures.

But their use is not recommended for daily use because there is a great wear of the material, while the desired coefficient of friction of the material becomes possible at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius. A new material of manufacturing carbon fiber discs with liquid silicon, gave the “ceramic” a brake. These withstand temperatures well over 2.000 degrees Celsius and are stronger and lighter than any other species, but extremely expensive.

Mechanical problems: Disc Brake deterioration

What can cause damage to the disc brakes?

• One of the main causes is the heavy use. No matter how careful we are, friction always wears any material.

Continue below…

This article is for www.Brockmoor.com

Disc Brakes – part 2

Continuing…

• Have been overheated the disc from short braking at high speed. If the disc is overheated (even firing) and pass from a point with water, the sudden temperature change will warped the disc.

Effects and indications of worn brake discs

• The important consequence is that from the moment when the brake pads are worn – and with them the disk plates – there is an increase in the distance of stopping the vehicle.
• In most cars, there are lights in the instrument cluster or some messages appear on the screen controls, which urge you to make a change in the friction materials in brake pads.
• When the brake pads are worn, during braking the wheel displays some trembling.
• During braking, there is shaking at the brake pedal while the damage is a major cause for reduced braking sense.

*It should be noted that the cars equipped with ABS when using the whole pedal, it makes a distinctive move as “jitter”. Do not think that you have a problem with the disk brakes.

• Through the rim you can easily distinguish if the disc is worn. Damaged discs have the characteristic of many engraved rings.
• By pressing the brakes a “whistling” noise will be produced. This is a classic example of worn brake pads.

How to avoid the sharp deterioration

• It is advisable to change the pads every 9,500 to 12,500 miles. But of course this is not standard.
• Avoid panic braking at high speeds and drive sensibly and not “nervous” trying to avoid as much as possible the use of the brake pedal.
• Also try not to drive through points with water when the brakes have been overheated because the sudden temperature switch will twist the brake discs.
• When you realize that the brake pads are worn make an immediate change because if you forget you will need to change the brake discs.

This article is for www.Brockmoor.com