Carbon-ceramic discs


High performance, minimum weight


The Brembo Group has been manufacturing carbon ceramic discs for automotive applications since 2002, when it first supplied these components for the Ferrari Enzo.

This high performance material, made from a special mixture of powders, resins and fibres in a complex manufacturing process, has been used since the 1970s in braking systems for aerospace applications and since the 1980s in motorsports.

Since 2000, carbon ceramic has also been used in the production of braking systems for sports cars.

 

 
 

        
In 2004, the carbon ceramic braking system was awarded the Golden Compass prize by ADI, the Italian Industrial Design Association.

Carbon ceramic offers substantial benefits in terms of performance - in both wet and dry conditions - weight, comfort, corrosion resistance, durability and high-tech appeal.

In June 2009, Brembo forged the equal share joint venture Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes together with SGL Carbon, with the objective of developing carbon ceramic braking systems, and manufacturing and commercialising carbon ceramic discs exclusively for the passenger car and commercial vehicle original equipment markets.

Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes is currently the leading producer of carbon ceramic discs, and supplies these components for the most exclusive models of prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Corvette, Nissan, Lexus, McLaren, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and AMG.


 

A documentary on carbon-ceramic discs

Here is the episode of How It's Made produced by Productions MAJ Inc. This show has been broadcast by various channels in the Discovery group and it reveals the secrets of the detailed production process for carbon-ceramic discs.

The documentary was filmed in the Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes plant at Stezzano (BG) adjacent to the general quarter and at the Brembo research and development centre.


 

Some of the cars models equipped with Brembo carbon ceramic discs :


 
Ferrari 488 GTB

Brembo has perfected a braking system for the 488 GTB capable of offering superior performance, thanks to the use of mechatronics, as well as great good looks.  Given the high loads generated by piston pressure on pads, maximum rigidity and less deformation is ensured by pillar calipers (machined from a single block of aluminum) available in 9 different colours.
The rear caliper is characterized by the integrated electrical parking brake: this solution developed by Brembo combines traditional mechanical skills with newer electronic features in a caliper involving high-level mechatronics. Brembo has developed an electronic control unit and control software governing the parking brake which are integrated into a single component.
Brembo CCM discs complete the brake system alongside Brembo pads with friction material made from a blend of specifically dosed organic elements ensuring the best braking performance with Brembo CCM discs in composite ceramic material.

Ferrari California T

The braking system on the California is designed to combine sport and comfort perfectly and comprises Brembo front and rear modules with carbon ceramic discs. The 390 mm carbon-ceramic discs at the front are coupled to 6-piston calipers with a 143 cm2 pad, while the 360 mm carbon-ceramic discs on the rear are coupled to 4-piston calipers with a 77 cm2 pad.
The brake system is completed with Brembo CCM discs that ensure a weight reduction of 50% compared to cast iron discs. This achieves a significant reduction of the unsprung mass of the vehicle, ensuring excellent dynamic behaviour and impressive driving comfort.

LaFerrari

Conceived for a car of excellence with a strong sporting vocation such as LaFerrari, the new Brembo brake system highlights innovative design, weight reductions and mechatronics.
Aggressive and innovative aesthetics for this new "extreme" caliper above all mean a significant reduction of unsprung weight (more than 3 kg) and better pedal response. This caliper body also ensures better ventilation, with a reduction in brake fluid temperature of more than 30 °C. Although the front caliper has six pitons and the rear one 4 integrated with the electric parking brake, actually the two calipers are visually identical. No difference is seen when looking at the car from the side. The brake system is completed with Brembo CCM discs that ensure a weight reduction of 50% compared to cast iron discs.

Lamborghini Aventador

Brake calipers

Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers for the Lamborghini Aventador, a car that seems to have come directly from the future in view of its sharp geometries.
The attentive design of the Brembo calipers, thanks to a co-design approach with leading car-makers worldwide, integrates seamlessly with the overall aesthetics of the most exclusive models.

Pagani Huayra

High coefficient of friction under all conditions of use

The Pagani Huayra is fitted with Brembo Carbon-Ceramic brakes, already tested on the Nürburgring with the Zonda R and ideal even for the most critical situations.
The weight reduction achieved thanks to using Carbon-Ceramic brakes means that the Huayra turns in exceptional behaviour for racing as well as everyday driving. The composite ceramic material manufactured by Brembo ensures a high coefficient of friction in all conditions of use that remains constant during braking at all speeds, thereby allowing the driver to optimize the force applied to the pedal. This important feature is difficult to achieve with conventional cast iron.
The brake calipers are connected to a metal bell so that the unit can be mounted directly on the wheel hub. This innovative mounting system is patented system and also involves flexible deformation between the brake belt and the bell. It is the result of detailed studies allowing differential thermal expansion between the materials of the two brake system elements. In addition, the limited deformation of the CCM Carbon-Ceramic discs at high temperatures ensures perfect coupling between disc and pad. This important quality is not easy to obtain with cast iron discs, that tend to deform when subjected to prolonged, heavy duty thermal stress. In addition, the hardness of composite ceramic material ensures long disc life.