5 FACTORS THAT MAKE A BREMBO BRAKING SYSTEM UNBEATABLE

9/20/2017

From 100 km/h to 0 in just 2.2 seconds: Find out how it's possible with Brembo brakes

There are cars that can brake from 100 km/h to 0 in just 2.2 seconds. No, we're not talking about Formula One cars but high-performance road cars such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini or Corvette ( see the list of the 50 best-braking cars) that thanks to the original equipment Brembo braking systems combine unequalled performance and braking comfort.

But how is it possible for a standard braking system to achieve such abrupt braking? Here are 5 ingredients of the Brembo braking systems that determine unrivalled performance.

1) The dimensions
If we are talking about braking performance, then size does count, without doubt. The braking torque of a disc brake is the result of the product of three factors: the effective radius of the disc, the clamping force of the caliper and the friction coefficient. The larger the disc diameter, the greater the braking torque. Increasing the diameter of the disc, in fact, increases the effective radius and thus, keeping the other variables unaltered, the braking torque increases. The dimensions of the brake pad also count. The reason is found in the heat exchange: a wider pad facilitates the disposal of heat and reduces the inclination of the braking system to fade and therefore makes it possible to apply the brakes often in quick succession compared to a smaller pad. Also, the number and diameter of the caliper pistons is directly proportional to the braking torque. Both act on the clamping force and hence the greater the clamping force of the caliper the greater the capacity of the caliper will be to exert a force on the pads and the more effective the braking will be.

Since size counts for the more sporty cars, Brembo produces braking systems comprised of 4, 6 or 8 piston monobloc calipers to ensure the driver has the maximum stiffness and braking force, coupled with high performance discs with generous diameters. Brembo brake discs (which may be in carbon ceramic, for the most exclusive models, or floating and co-cast with cast iron braking band and aluminium housing) are all characterized by a limited axial deformability. The Brembo braking systems of these cars frequently incorporate innovations relative to the materials and technologies that directly derived from the racing world (Thanks to the experience accumulated by Brembo in over 40 years of competition, from Formula 1 to Endurance races through the former Paris-Dakar) and are only applied later to other cars.

2) Lightness (or best weight / stiffness ratio)

Of course it isn't possible to increase the size of the braking system as you like, because increasing the size of the system components also increases the weight of the unsuspended masses resulting in the decay of the car's overall performance. For this reason one of the main characteristics of the Brembo braking system is the lightness, which is constantly maintained by Brembo in every component of the braking system.

Take the Brembo ceramic carbon discs for example, which weigh about half that of traditional discs of the same size, thus allowing an advantage in the reduction of non-suspended masses. Again in terms of lightness, the Brembo aluminium brake calipers are able to guarantee the best weight / stiffness ratio thanks to specific design methods designed to achieve the utmost optimization of the shape and thanks to a long and laborious testing phase both on the bench and on the road). The Brembo fixed calipers, in addition to their characteristic performance and design, are able to confer weight reduction and residual torque advantages to the cars, resulting in lower fuel consumption and therefore lower emissions.

3) Friction material

As previously explained, the friction coefficient affects the braking torque. Equal to the dimensions, the material used is also a discriminating factor. The Brembo carbon ceramic discs, for example, have a higher friction coefficient of about 12% compared to cast iron.

Equal to the material used, the surface finish of the disc is also decisive for the friction exerted. The drilled and slotted discs ensure, from the initial braking stages, a greater grip and a faster and more effective response of the braking system with respect to a standard disc. In terms of friction material, the compound with which the pads are made is not to be underestimated.

Brembo has a dedicated structure for the study and production of brake pads, which aims to produce this fundamental component of the braking system, along side the more traditional calipers and discs that historically characterize Brembo's know-how. Thanks to constant research, today Brembo is able to develop brake pads with "tailor-made" materials for each individual braking system, ensuring the maximum degree of integration between pad, disc and brake caliper.

4) The systemic approach

A braking system consists of several components that must work together with the highest level of integration and efficiency possible to ensure reliability, comfort and durability over time. Brembo can now guarantee this full integration thanks to its exclusive system approach, which entails the in-depth knowledge of all the elements involved in the braking action.

In fact, Brembo is among the few manufacturers able to operate with system logic since it produces all the components involved in the braking action internally (discs, calipers, pads and hub carriers) and assembles them to provide their customers with complete brake modules that meet all the requirements of the world's most exclusive and high performance cars.

To constantly follow the evolution of transport means and to seek the best braking system for the new vehicles of the future. This is the guiding principle of Brembo's R & D activity, according to which each single component of the braking or adjacent system (caliper, disc, pad, suspension, control unit) is complementary to the other for the optimization of the braking operation that is constantly refined in all its aspects.

5) Braking distribution

Just as in competitions, effective braking on the road does not depend solely on the characteristics of the front system. Especially for the more sporty cars, characterized by a more balanced distribution between the two axles, the rear braking system is of major importance. Brembo collaborates with the most prestigious global car manufacturers with integrated engineering services that accompany the development of new car models. In this way it is possible to offer more and more integrated and efficient braking systems to motorists, as is the philosophy of the Brembo Group, thus guaranteeing the best braking performance possible. To obtain breathtaking braking, the rear braking system must also be studied in detail. And that's exactly what happens on the most important sports cars that choose Brembo braking systems at the front and rear to ensure optimum braking balance and reduced stopping distances.

Every car deserves Brembo

But if you do not have a stunning supercar that can brake from 100 to 0 km/h in 2.2 seconds, do not despair! Brembo can help you improve the braking performance of your car whether you are a performance-minded sports car driver or a more safety-conscious motorist.

For the sports driver, Brembo offers a range of products to improve the car brakes in terms of performance and look. Replacing the original braking systems with Brembo products, always reliable and specially designed for upgrading, all are able to significantly improve braking performance.

For motorists who are more safety and quality conscious, Brembo offers a full range of Aftermarket spare parts (discs, pads, drum and brake shoes), born from the experience gained in racing and the collaboration with car manufacturers, with excellent performance, reliability , durability and comfort in any use condition.