Carbon brake prototype DONE!!!

[N/A Camry Sleeper]

After several months of planning and some trial and error with machining, I have finally finshed the hat which will enable one to use F1 Benetton carbon brake rotors on a 5 X 114.3mm (4.5") lug pattern to fit a Gen3 Camry. Both rotors are within 2mm the same thickness which presents no problems with brake caliper fitment IN THAT DIMENSION at least. I have an OEM rotor which fits a Gen3 V6 Camry for comparison:



The diameter of the two rotors are VERY close as well; only about 3/16" total difference in height:



The next step is to machine another one identical to this and retrofit the front brakes of my 5SFE-powered rig to see what the pros/cons might be. The carbon rotor actually has LESS swept surface area than the OEM V6 rotor, but MORE than the I4 smaller OEM rotors. This carbon material transfers heat quicker than cast iron - which means that they will be quicker to heat up during braking, but also quicker to cool off since specific heat is less...I might have to upgrade to DOT 4 or DOT 5 brake fluid - we'll have to see what happens. Another possibility is to use titanium caliper pistons which transfer heat MUCH slower than a steel counterpart...again, we'll just have to see what happens (my favorite line!)

Now for the fun part! Here's the stocker V6 rotor:



Wait for it, wait for it....



Fun times ahead - provided this is successful then next will be the rear disc conversion!

[fenixus]

^

how was the test drive?

[Creeps228]

Looking sexy

[ShawnTRD]

I wanna hear how that works out. Looks like they would get frictions like a mother. And the 20 lbs less of rolling mass would be nice.

[Chris Crash]

Holy crap! You did it! You really freaking did it! Great work man. The world needs more pioneers like yourself.

[bigbird]

hahaha...10 lbs less. expensive test. but if you get it right, youll have a market in the solara community as well.

[N/A Camry Sleeper]

Originally Posted by bigbird

hahaha...10 lbs less. expensive test. but if you get it right, youll have a market in the solara community as well.

Sure hope so...getting away from using iron and steel is the current trend, and 10 lb rotating unsprung weight has more of an effect on vehicle performance than 10 lbs static weight, sprung or unsprung

Once it get the MR2 manual rack conversion all ironed out I will then make the other hat and then do the install - can't wait for that...there has to be a market for entry-level carbon brakes somewhere - it can't be relegated to just Porsches and Lamborghinis - all of us need some carbon in our lives

[lemegacool]

fecking awesome man! love it!

[4Cyl'erThriller]

Sweet Ass!!! I cant even imagine 10 lbs less per rotor. Gotta be a hell of a difference. Cant wait to hear what happens with the testing.

[Silent Runner]

This is good stuff!

I just did an "emergency stop" from 240kph on an old abondoned airport runway. The Camry's brakes can definitely use some upgradeing. Smoke, vibration, fading... pretty pathetic and scary. For those that might not want to test in special conditions: consider a heavily loaded car, going at normal speeds down a long mountain grade of 5% or so.

[fenixus]

240kph? that's 150mph!
bad girl!

I can imagine braking distance to a full stop from that speed hehe. what pads are you using?
Hawk HPS or Akebono Street Performance have nice hard grip on rotors, though be careful they heat up rotors VERY much if you brake hard (rotor warping warning!), sports slotted or drilled rotors come in handy for such scenario as they provide much better ventilation and heat dissipation

I am very curious of carbon rotors testing! N/A Camry Sleeper man, do the other one finally ... the suspense is killing us hehe

EDIT:
I wish we had some abandoned airport around here in NJ ...

[iovaykind]

I don't even have anything to say except AWEEEEEEESOME. 10lbs per corner of sprung weight is A LOT

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

This is good stuff!

I just did an "emergency stop" from 240kph on an old abondoned airport runway. The Camry's brakes can definitely use some upgradeing. Smoke, vibration, fading... pretty pathetic and scary. For those that might not want to test in special conditions: consider a heavily loaded car, going at normal speeds down a long mountain grade of 5% or so.

I see I'm not the only one with crappy brakes.

I've been at 120+mph in my car and I will never do that again, pure suicide.

[Silent Runner]

Yes indeed, and it really was on an old runway. I saw 225kph on my way oversized 225-60-17"s.(up to 10% low by tire sizing) Still running smooth as silk, I noticed the end of the runway was coming up pretty fast and smacked the brakes on. They did the job, but it was messy and unpleasant, and nothing like a good autobuan runner should do. Vibration, pulling side to side, some fade, and smoke! Don't try to recreate this experiment unless your an expert, under controlled conditions.

Not funny at all.. a learning experience for me. I'm a conservative driver nowowadays, finding out what the car will do under extra-ordinary situations, in a safe enviroment was a serious learning situation.

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

For those that might not want to test in special conditions: consider a heavily loaded car, going at normal speeds down a long mountain grade of 5% or so.

Oh you're talking to him...Out where I live to get to the next major city you are going down some steep declines. I generally shift in neutral to save gas and work up to about 70, 80 mph LOL. That's with lots of stuff in the trunk...On 8 and 9% grades.

Main part was the vibrations, but since I'd gotten my rotors machined I have not had that issue.