Brake Balance - How Does It Work?

[Glasgow 911SC]

How do you work out what brake combinations work? Piston sizes determine the balance, right?

So how do you work out that changing the calipers on an SC, for example, to Boxster fronts with Carrera discs and Carrera rears and discs will keep roughly an acceptable balance?

I've heard that Carrera rears with 964 fronts is also, roughly, in the ball park.

Just trying to learn some stuff. Thanks for any replies.

[masraum]

you determine the surface area covered by the pistons of the front calipers and then compare that to the surface area covered by the rear surface area creating a ratio.

Then look for a post on brakes by Bill Verburg to see what the target/acceptible range is to see if you are in the ballpark.

[Glasgow 911SC]

Wow. Quick reply. Thanks for that info steve. Trying to expand my knowledge.

[obrut]

Hey Chris

As Steve mentioned - the ratio of front to rear piston area is the primary bias factor. There's a bit more info at the link below on the setup on my car - which now has beautiful balance without the need for a dual m/c.

Cheers - Ryan

Brake Qn: (twin mc vs. proportioning valve)

[Superman]

Some cars (Carreras, for example) need to add a proportioning valve to limit the braking power to an axle. SCs, of course, do not need this. (winking face goes here)

[Glasgow 911SC]

Excellent stuff lads. Exactly the kind of answers I was looking for. Bookmarked now.