Quote:
Originally Posted by 93RTTurbo
If I am understanding correctly, a duct system would be more beneficial to those of us without the "big brake kit" setups, because the StopTech for example, is better designed to disperse the heat effectively. I do have crossdrilled/slotted rotors, although they have just been installed, so I have no firsthand experience with them as far as racing or hard driving conditions. Yet. 
The smooth ducting system is sweet! Great pictures. But, with the ground clearance many of us have...that's probably not going to be too practical, unless we want to include "possum bits removal from brake ducts" as part of our maintenance routine.
I'm glad you pointed out the possibility of melting the fans, that close to the rotors. I hadn't considered this.
Next time I put it up on the lift, I really need to take some measurements, as far as wheel lock to wheel lock, and see if there is room to put a vent towards the inner side of the "dust guard"...there's no point blowing any more air at the tire itself. To be effective, the air needs to be directed at the rotors/pads, not just in the direction of the tire or wheel itself.
Now I'm thinking...although I could be completely off track, since I have never unbolted a front fender to see what is under there, and how much room there is, and so on...vented front fenders, with the vent facing forward (as opposed to the ones designed to channel heat away, or at least look like they do) as a cowl design of sorts...to scoop in cooler air, into a duct that vents directly at the caliper area? Is this too far fetched? |
Been out of town working, so couldn't keep up with this. Anyways, as far as the vented fender idea, I don't see that as being possible, and very well impractical with our limited space in both areas for and aft of the wheel at full lock. There's also a wire harness that runs behind the fender. Yes, a duct system would be benificial, but as I said earlier, the stock rotors would make the duct system less effective at rotor cooling. Therefore the ducts will have a greater impact on aftermarket designs such as SCE's WIDE rotors and big brake kits. Generally speaking, though, if you are overheating your brakes, the most likely culprit is the driver. Our stock brakes with proper pads and fluid will shame many a faster car's, and with proper brake usage will last a full day or more at the track without problems. No ducting in the world will help a driver who hammers the brakes from 140-50 MPH lap after lap on street pads and DOT 3 fluid that's 3 years old. Big brakes or not. That was the point of that quoted sentance.
Again, in simple form:
1. A duct system will be more efficient on a car equipped with big brakes or aftermarket rotors with the vent inlet facing inwards.
2. A duct system will also greatly help people who suffer from overheating brakes.
3. A duct system will not solve overheating problems cause from improper pad selection or usage.
4. K.I.S.S. You will find this term everywhere, especially in endurance racing. Stands for "keep it simple, stupid". Self-explanitory, in that the simpler system will out-perform and out-last a more complicated one, over time. case in point: I've seen a race team's chances of winning a race ruined because a complicated brake cooling system that used flappers to control brake temp stuck closed, causing the brakes to catch fire and nearly burn the whole car to the ground.
5. You won't find brake blowers on cars that don't need them. Brake cooling in the pits is better achieved with simple fans/blowers not mounted to the car.
6. Big brakes last longer than your stockers. I've gone through 4 sets of front rotors in one season. Phil (SCE) has yet to replace a StopTech rotor, ever. I've gone through even more pads. If I remember right, Phil is still on his first or second set.
7. Buy a spare set of rotors if you go tracking, preferably non-drilled or slotted (unless the slots don't reach the rotor edge). Drilled ones will crack eventually, and if yours are from ebay, irotors, or race concepts, then they will not make it back home from the track. I will go as far to say they will not last one 20 min. session with track pads. Better yet, I will venture as to say they will not last one hot lap with track pads and R comps.