Brembo announcement could lead to more affordable carbon-ceramic disc brakes
10/29/2008, 4:35 PM
By Drew Johnson
Carbon-ceramic disc brakes have been reserved for supercar use only – thanks to prices that usually start in the $12,000 range – but a recent announcement may see the technology trickle down to more everyday model.
Brembo announced earlier this week that it has purchased the other half of its BCBS joint-venture, which was co-run with Daimler. BCBS produces carbon-ceramic disc brakes for supercar use, but Brembo’s purchase of the Daimler joint-venture will give the brake manufacturer greater economies of scale, which could translate into lower prices.
“Carbon ceramic discs technology is now ready to be applied on a wider scale, after the intense development performed with Daimler,” said Alberto Bombassei, Chairman of Brembo. “The product is part of Brembo core-business and Daimler will remain an important customer, for this as well as other products, after contributing with its know-how to the development of this very innovative material.”
Although lower prices are probably on the way, don’t expect to find carbon-fiber disc brakes to show up on economy cars any time soon. Prices will likely stay in the four-figure range, but should begin to show up on cars like Chevrolet Corvettes and higher-end BMW and Mercedes models.
10/29, 5:01 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
I NEED “Carbon-ceramic disc brakes”…
YES I DO…. IF THEY CAN BRING IT DOWN TO 1/2 MAYBE, 1/3 NOW WERE TALKING….
10/29, 5:40 PM
posted by:
A4
uhh they arent carbon fiber disc brakes lln christ
10/29, 8:35 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Great! Anything to make the best brakes more affordable is welcome in my book.
10/29, 8:37 PM
posted by:
inspire
A4 — guess again. There is some carbon fiber in carbon CERAMIC brakes — not 100% of the brakes is carbon fiber, but part of it.
I wouldn’t install these brakes until they are about a $1-2k option, so 1/6 of the current ‘market’ price. (I value them as much as a 19″ rim upgrade … that’s if they’re forged like Volk Racing, for instance … or like the package the ‘vette had on the previous gen Z06 … magnesium?)
10/30, 12:08 AM
posted by:
eliteski2
I suddenly also NEED these brakes on my car. Don’t ask why, I just have to have them.
10/30, 1:35 AM
posted by:
whips001
THEY ALREADY HAVE THESE BRAKES ON ALL THE NEW BENZ AMG’S AND THE ZR1….DOESNT MATTER IF THEY’RE BRINGING THE PRICE DOWN OR NOT THEY’RE WORTH THE MONEY, IF YOUR BROKE GO BUY SOME BREMBO CALLIPERS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL BETTER
10/30, 1:49 AM
posted by:
Blakkarr
For some people better calipers are not enough. For those who want the best gear, it is going to get less costly to go there.
10/30, 10:09 AM
posted by:
BMW M1
What I know abt carbon ceramic brakes is that their main advantage is tbeing very resistant to brake fade. Their coefficient of friction is actually slightly lower than that of normal brake callipers. Therefore, it makes sense to put them on sports cars which are meant or built for racing around a track and where brake fade would be a big problem.
Ceramic brakes will be totally useless or actually slightly more dangerous on an econobox. Though they would still make a lot of sense as standard kit on BMW M models, or the RS’s or the AMGs. It wouldnt make sense to put them on anything else
10/30, 12:41 PM
posted by:
doublearon21
whips01, the only new AMG models with composite brakes are the S65, CL65, and SL65, which are 200K, I think LLN is referring to the more run of the mill MB’s like he C class and E class. As far as street use goes CC brakes are really pointless, you don’t encounter any situation where brake fade becomes a problem (unless you’re breaking the law). Also CC brakes need to be at operating temperature to really be an advantage (hence the reason MB uses less extreme composite brake (not even close to whats used on the ZR1, F430 Scud, ect)). As always anytime stuff like this comes down in price is great, but as BMW M1 said it is pointless to put these on anything not built for track use or at least track derived (M cars, RS, AMG).
10/30, 2:03 PM
posted by:
JerkStoreAssistantManager
Are carbon-ceramic disc brakes using carbon fiber as the carbon?
If not, +1 A4!
10/31, 10:48 AM
posted by:
athens
The brake rotor or disc in Porsches PCCBs (Posrche Ceramic Composite Brakes) are made out of CERAMIC reinforced with some carbon fiber. One advantage is reduction of unsprung weight. In this case the rotors weigh half of what steel rotors weigh. That translates to a 60 lb. weight reduction. Handling can be improved without sacrificing ride quality.
Here’s the second advantage: Durability.
Many complain about those Big Brake (Brembo) set-ups which are being offered in many performance coupes and sedans. Low fade brake pads on large diameter steel rotors, with multi-pot fixed calipers, produce component wear in record time. The higher friction coefficient generated results in higher wear rates. With PCCB Porsche actually provides, (I believe), an 80,000 mile warranty on the PCCB components provided the car hasn’t been raced or abused.
Take the Infiniti G35 with a Brembo big brake system for example. While the car can stop within 10 feet from 70 from a Porsche with PCCB, its brakes needed to be serviced every 25,000 miles. At a rate of $1200 that Infiniti charges per brake pad and front rotor replacement, it would run about $5000 to keep servicing the Infiniti’s brakes for 150,000 miles.
With normal driving the life expectancy of the PCCBs is to well over 150,000 miles.
Porsche does offer this system on it’s Cayman S at $9000. So if you never have to change the brakes components to over 150,000 miles and they can bring the price down to the $5,000 range it might make sense for any performance car to get a Ceramic Composite brake system.
11/10, 1:46 PM
posted by:
Dante_JoseCuervo
This reminds me of how my friend just put carbon-ceramic brakes on his rabbit. Unfortunately he didn’t just take my advice to upgrade his brake pads and now his braking distances are only good when the rotors are hot.
I think it’s great that C-C brakes are going to get cheaper. There are some people out there who could benefit from them, but the fact of the matter is that the average driver doesn’t really need this. Is it a good idea? Yes, but not terribly practical