Caliper Placement

[Ryan]

I noticed today that different cars have their clipers in different places. Does the placement really matter? Like does the car stop quicker if the calipers are in the front of the rotor or what? Or is it just a matter of space and fitting it in right. Thanks.

[Ryan]

i find it hard to believe that no one on this site knows

[00soul]

ive noticed that too, like front calipers on mercedes are in the front.

[Droptop///M]

Yeah ive always wondered this. Cmon guys, someone has to know

[Hellred]

Actually in racing that has a huge play on the way a car performs under severe braking conditions.
I don't have an answer for you guys but if we use logic, we can come up with some good ideas:
Here are a few

*I would assume, suspension configuration would have something to do with it. Whichever part has been designed to absorb the immense pressures of braking. To preserve weight some suspensions are made of
*Weight distribution, and unsprung weight of the hub.
*Engine location. If the car is rear engined, and four wheel drive, you want all four calipers to brake more evenly than a 2 wheel drive car, simply because you have engine inertia to slow down as well.
*If the car needs more braking from the front for a front wheel drive, the setup may change there too.
*For cooling reasons, some engineers try to locate the caliper in the coolest air channel...

Any more ideas?

[Ryan]

well i was thinking that the calipers would be in front to in a sense "push" the car to a stop. If they are in the back of the rotor then they are having to "pull" the car top a stop. I dunno. Just a thought.

[klasic951]

Regardless of where the brake caliper is located it is going to do the same job. But for the most part they are located in certain places because of packaging of the rest of the suspension. Where the steering arms come in, where the struts pick up, ect. ect.

Looking at race cars where they can design it which ever way they want for the most they are on the "back" of the rotor. Thinking from a Physics perpective this may be an attempt to keep the CG closer to the center of the car.

As a side not, the Alfa Romeo GTV had its brakes inboard for this exact reason. By inboard I mean the rotors and calipers were tucked in right next to the rear diff. Making and brake work a big pain in the... but improving the CG of the car.

[stimpee]

The biggest advantage of inboard brakes is the significant reduction in unsprung weight. The ratio of sprung to unsprung weight has a major effect on how much spring/damping you need to control the suspension. This of course ultimately effects the balance between ride and handling.

I would suspect that the realities of packaging have more of an effect on caliper placement than anything. I'm sure the placement may have other effects, but they are probably pretty minor on a street car.