How does the location of the caliper effect the brakeing properties of a given car. I am referring to the physical location of the caliper around the rotor. IE the C4's are at 2'o clock front & 10'o clock rear while the C5's are at 3 & 6 respectivly. I have thought about this for a good while now & can't seem to come to any good conclusions. On one hand I feel there should be an optimal spot around the rotor depending on suspension, car weight & location of the tires in respect to the car, but one the other it might not matter, just put them where they'll fit.
There is a rotating mass & the brake force is being applied at one area around the radius of the rotor. Will gyroscopic precesion (sp) or something simalar come into affect? I would love both the layman & a physics answers if possible as to why it does or doesn't matter.

Thanks

Neal

I posted a similar question about two months ago and didn't get one response (probably because no one knew the answer). I remember reading about this several years ago in one of the car magazines, but I can't recall the exact answer.

I know that part of the orientation has to do with front versus rear wheel drive and the distribution of the engine weight over or behind the front axis. That's all I remember (that and the 3:00 o-clock position for the fronts seems to be the optimal location for efficiency, but again I don't know why).

P.S. Nice Z06 rims!

Regards,

I've often thought of this very subject myself.

Obviously one of the limiting factors is the suspension; e.g. tie-rod location, spindles, etc. will dictate where the caliper will fit.

But with that limitation aside, I too am curious what theoretical effect placement would have.

Anybody?

PS. Arisa, the C4 fronts are more like 4-oclock.

Yea Yea, I thought about that a few minutes ago, but I got my thoughts down (which is rare) [img]http]//www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Neal

Actually the LEFT front is ~4/5 oclock but the RIGHT front is swung around at ~8 [img]http]//www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Wish I had some VALUABLE insight to the question, though as I too have wondered as why the fronts are 'trailing the axle but the rear calipers are 'leading' the axle.

Tie-rods are in the way.

But like I said, assuming the caliiper would fit anywhere, I'd like to see some discussion on the best theoretical location for the calipers!

I did see this reference from a honda cycle article that sheds a 'little' light on the front wheel....

"...steered mass in a motorcycle is very important to handling--a factor that dictated the rearward brake caliper location on the new GL1000."

Hmmm, seems that behind the axle in front would put less stress on the tires sidewall loading during braking. And in front of rear axle would allow for better effecientcy when under heavy braking during chassis unloading. Most of the weight would still be ahead of the axle and not behind it....but I could be wrong.... http://www.corvetteforum.cc/ubb/smile.gif

never thought about it. the only effect would be weight distribution, and a torque on the caliper mounts on the spindle. the spindle is already in bind in that direction between the ball joints, and the torque would tend to twist the spindle in the negative caster direction. very negligible, I presume.

Hmmm, interesting question. I'll have to go ask Ed the Junkyard Warrior, he's the Corvette genius!