Carbon-ceramic brakes to become standard in the near future

If Brembo, the brake specialist, succeeds in a united project with SGL, a carbon manufacturer, it is forecasted that carbon-ceramic brakes will become common in the succeeding ten years or so.

Both companies are currently trying to find ways to cut the cost of carbon-ceramic disks and mass produce them. Carbon-ceramic disks provide better braking power and less fade in contrast to standard steel ones. They are usually hand-made or involve partly automated procedures, the very thing that Brembo and SGL want to change. The intention of Brembo and SGL is to complete automate the process and thus reduce cost. SGL believes that it now time for the carbon-ceramic disk brake technology to see wider applications.
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Joe_Limon - 6/12/2009 10:11:59 AM

+4 Boost

And yet the prius, the supossedly most advanced car of our time (according to certain fanboys) still has rear drum brakes.

Joe_Limon - 6/12/2009 7:54:42 PM

+4 Boost

Hmm guess the "new" prius I saw the other day wasn't new enough.

MrBratwurst - 6/12/2009 8:47:23 PM

-1 Boost

The Prius has energy recuperation braking which takes a lot of load and heat off the friction brakes.

Whelan - 6/12/2009 11:14:35 AM

+1 Boost

The need for rear disc brakes on small cars is almost mute. I have rear drums on my 05 Matrix. The cars that are smaller and thus lighter don't have a proper need for the added costs of disc braking systems in the rear. I have 97,000 on my car and never touched the rear drums yet. Had them checked last oil change and they were in great shape still. More of your braking is done up front anyways and with a addition like the Brake Distribution (on my Matrix), the braking is dispersed evenly in hard situations to keep the car footed.

But moving along, the Carbon-Ceramic has one flaw. They take time to heat up. When getting sport brakes or ceramics you run the risk of not achieving optimal braking until they warm up. So hitting the panic shortly after leaving your driveway may not work as effectively. These little sport compacts running around putting performance brakes on the car cause they look cool with painted calipers kill me. A little light car like that takes some time to get the brakes up to temp to work properly cause of the materials they are made of.

Joe_Limon - 6/12/2009 11:40:10 AM

+3 Boost

Friction is friction, at the end of the day being at or under temp will not stop your car any faster. What carbon ceramic brakes do to stop cars faster is reduce the rotating mass. The reduced rotating mass means less inertia to stop as well as less gyroscopic forces on the steering system, giving your car an overall lighter feel.

r_driver04 - 6/12/2009 5:09:49 PM

+1 Boost

90% of the drivers on the road won't ever out-drive their current braking system! Ceramic is cool and useful for cars that can use them, otherwise it's just for looks and conversation.

truckman - 6/13/2009 4:54:37 AM

-1 Boost

I can just picture them now exploding under an emergency stop,lol How well do thes brakes stop in cold weather?Ice,snow, Wet? I am not sold on them yet, although I can appreciate the lighter unsprung weight, and the ability to withstand higher temperatures. I have also heard that they have to be heated up for them to work properly.? Any input?