why are front brake calipers on differant ends on front or rear wheel drive cars?

cyclopopcicle · 2 Jun 2012 at 21:11

Hi
As topic, i assume there is a reason?
Front wheel drive calipers are on the front of the disk, and rear drive are on the rear if the disk

PardonTheWait · 2 Jun 2012 at 21:16

cyclopopcicle said:
Hi
As topic, i assume there is a reason?
Front wheel drive calipers are on the front of the disk, and rear drive are on the rear if the disk

Are you saying that no FWD cars have calipers that are behind the disc?

Jonnycoupe · 2 Jun 2012 at 21:17

Usually due to the steering rack so the calipers are around the disc away from the tie rod end connection to the knuckle.

Transverse engines are usually FWD so you can sit the rack behind the drivedhafts and diff exit.

Justintime · 2 Jun 2012 at 21:20

I've asked this of a mechanic mate whos over right now and hes told me things such as cooling, weight distribution and the caliper usually being on whatever side of the hub the steering rack isn't, which depends on the cars drivetrain.

realscot · 2 Jun 2012 at 21:29

There doesn't appear to be a "better" place to have the caliper, as already said just place them wherever is easiest depending on the room available around the hub.

By the way most F1 cars calipers are at the front of the hub but much lower down than the standard 9 o'clock position we're used to seeing. Apparently its all for keeping the center of mavity lower.

cyclopopcicle · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:06

PardonTheWait said:
Are you saying that no FWD cars have calipers that are behind the disc?

not at all, but its where i have always noticed them to be.

cyclopopcicle · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:06

Jonnycoupe said:
Usually due to the steering rack so the calipers are around the disc away from the tie rod end connection to the knuckle.

Transverse engines are usually FWD so you can sit the rack behind the drivedhafts and diff exit.

makes sense, thanks

PardonTheWait · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:13

cyclopopcicle said:
not at all, but its where i have always noticed them to be.

I'd just never looked that's all, thought no that can't possibly be right, but looks like it mostly is. Learn something new every day

Jamous · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:34

Yeah, as above fwd means rack can be mounted on the bulkhead or rear of the subframe so nearer to the steering column, meaning less link shafts, so calipers are mounted at the front. The in-line engine means the gearbox is behind the engine so no-where to fit the rack except under the engine or towards the front, meaning the caliper has to go to the rear.

CaptainRAVE · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:42

Well I just learnt something.

Jonnycoupe · 2 Jun 2012 at 22:55

Jamous said:
Yeah, as above fwd means rack can be mounted on the bulkhead or rear of the subframe so nearer to the steering column, meaning less link shafts, so calipers are mounted at the front. The in-line engine means the gearbox is behind the engine so no-where to fit the rack except under the engine or towards the front, meaning the caliper has to go to the rear.

You will struggle if you start having more than 2 UJs in an intermediate steering shaft

In a north-south / longitudinal getting the rack to the front is preferred as you can lower the engine. Most cars of that type have a V8 or V6 somewhere in the lineup and usually decent multilingual with upper wishbones... Ie. no space to get a column past between enginge and body : so this is where you have a rear mounted rack ( rear of wheel centre) and profile the sump for clearance.

Firestar_3x · 3 Jun 2012 at 10:19

My engine is longitudinally mounted yet my car is FWD, rack is mounted above the gearbox and to the bulkhead, calipers are in front of the discs.

Jonnycoupe · 3 Jun 2012 at 10:58

Good old VW/Audi putting the engine so far forwards for their lazy gearbox design