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Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 8:24 am
by mickey
I've noticed that about 99% of cars with 4 wheel disc brakes have the calipers on the front brakes mounted BEHIND the axle and the calipers on the rear brakes mounted in FRONT of the axle.
Doesn't matter if the car is front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. The only reason I can come up with for WHY this layout is used is to save a few pennies by having shorter brake lines.
I've seen a few cars with all calipers mounted behind the axles but those are quite rare.
Does anyone know the engineering reason(s) behind the nearly universal choice of this layout?

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:07 am
by PoodlesAgain
I would want to look at what the calipers mount to, where brake torque applied to, maybe?

Easier to route brake lines that way?

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:20 pm
by Forecaster
this guy has a lot of reasons why they're mounted the way they are:

http://www.howdoesacarwork.com/2015/02/ ... t%20wheels

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 12:58 pm
by mickey
FANTASTIC VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks! :D

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 4:54 pm
by PoodlesAgain
Wow.
- surprising that there would be such spread across inwards versus outwards
- sports cars likely to be raced may need racing use factored in, as in, ease of servicing, emphasis on cooling, more exotic materials... and looks pleasing the owner!

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:26 pm
by redman
@mickey you have the same problem me and the rest of the old farts have and that's way too much time on our hands. :D

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:06 am
by mickey
redman wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:26 pm @mickey you have the same problem me and the rest of the old farts have and that's way too much time on our hands. :D
It will probably be carved on my tombstone:
"Too much time, too little money."

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 5:08 pm
by BatUtilityBelt
redman wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:26 pm @mickey you have the same problem me and the rest of the old farts have and that's way too much time on our hands. :D
I found a fix for that today - spending half a day diagnosing an electrical gremlin on my 16 year old daily driver. Older cars and extra time seem to have a symbiotic relationship.

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:38 am
by Rollin Hand
BatUtilityBelt wrote: Tue Mar 15, 2022 5:08 pm
redman wrote: Mon Mar 14, 2022 7:26 pm @mickey you have the same problem me and the rest of the old farts have and that's way too much time on our hands. :D
I found a fix for that today - spending half a day diagnosing an electrical gremlin on my 16 year old daily driver. Older cars and extra time seem to have a symbiotic relationship.
Electrical gremlins on older cars.....(shudders)

Re: Dumb car question

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:50 pm
by PoodlesAgain
Speaking of car electrical harnesses, the Ukraine conflict is getting a few carmakers in a tight spot: a number of sub-contractors making them were in the (soon to grow) war zone.
Big scramble to find new fabricators ASAP.