Might be the right thing for a project I'm looking at - anybody used 'em?
got to still be able to stop a big fast thing if its parachute snaps...!!
What do they use on dragsters?

last time I looked they were commonly using very lightweight drilled and lightened solid steel disks akin to motorbikes with very light multipot calipers in order to reduce the inertia to gain in the first 60 feet.

Im not sure they build in redundancy for the parachute failing, or carry two, or what really.

Edit:

http://www.bandlsteelracing.com.au/VehicleProfiles/TopFuelDragster/tabid/62/language/en-AU/Default.aspx

13 inch carbon disks on the rear only

[Edited on 12/1/09 by alistairolsen]

Dragsters don't need much in the way of brakes they only have to do a single stop even if is from 200 mph, the last thing they would want is a rear wheel lock up -- could be really nasty.

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
Dragsters don't need much in the way of brakes they only have to do a single stop even if is from 200 mph, the last thing they would want is a rear wheel lock up -- could be really nasty.

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Guess you need to know the run off distance etc.

^^ don't forget the parachute.

its a similar job to a dragster, the kinetic energy in the vehicle would be enough to nearly melt iron discs in a single stop, but the ceramic jobs can (in theory) take the heat & radiate the energy away. I was interested in things like costs, suppliers, mounting to bells, can normal (cheap) 4pot calipers be used with fancy pads?
etc. etc.

http://www.lambcomponents.com/parts/detail/crbnbrak.htm

Ap fitting pdf's

http://www.apracing.com/info/index.asp?section=Carbon+Brake+Discs_979

http://www.systemst.com/technical-information/

Not sure if this is relevant but,

I used to own an early (1998) Lotus Elise with MMC (metal matrix composite??) discs. For road, light track use they were simply unbeatable. The feel thru the pedal was absolutely superb & you could really work the brakes very well. They were so good they would flatter any driver, ie you could be really progressive with the pedal with great effect.

Also the discs are extremely light weight, & the Elise uses the same disc front & rear. The MMC discs *have* to be used with the correct pads.

I'm not sure if these are still available, they are quite sought after in the Elise clan.

*HOWEVER* the discs wouldn't stand up to continuous hard use, eg lots of laps on a hot day/sticky tyres. The discs would fail by fracturing around the inner perimeter of the friction surface, & quite literally 'letting go'!

Hope this helps.