Carbon Fiber Vents & Big Brakes
#1
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Carbon Fiber Vents & Big Brakes
Well I've been pretty hard at work over the last 30 days jugling a whole host of projects, but this has been one I've been pretty excited about.
So what I've got a good start on doing is building a true vent kit for the front brakes. I wanted to use the Big Brake Corrado kit as a starting point.
Now these two images show the air vent which forces air right into the center of the rotor just like F1 teams do to cool their rotors. Since there has to be a mount for the vent, I'm using the big brake caliper mount as an indexer and mounting place.
From here I have a semi-flexible hose that goes upto the front where you install this:
Into the front bumper. I've been aerodynamically testing everything, and result is very good in airflow. I have to work out a couple of interference things (tie rod end sits up right next to the vent right now.)
I also have the brackets for the big brake corrado conversion done, but I haven't settled on the mounting style for the CF vents.
I think that big piece of carbon fiber (which I purposely made very visible and wide) mounted right upto that big brake rotor is going to look awesome. The time line is probably another couple of months, my supplier is just now wrapping up my carbon cam gears and he has to do the ITB manifold still) I know I read a thread about 3 months ago talking about brake vents, is there still a strong market for this? Letme know what you think on interest.
So what I've got a good start on doing is building a true vent kit for the front brakes. I wanted to use the Big Brake Corrado kit as a starting point.
Now these two images show the air vent which forces air right into the center of the rotor just like F1 teams do to cool their rotors. Since there has to be a mount for the vent, I'm using the big brake caliper mount as an indexer and mounting place.
From here I have a semi-flexible hose that goes upto the front where you install this:
Into the front bumper. I've been aerodynamically testing everything, and result is very good in airflow. I have to work out a couple of interference things (tie rod end sits up right next to the vent right now.)
I also have the brackets for the big brake corrado conversion done, but I haven't settled on the mounting style for the CF vents.
I think that big piece of carbon fiber (which I purposely made very visible and wide) mounted right upto that big brake rotor is going to look awesome. The time line is probably another couple of months, my supplier is just now wrapping up my carbon cam gears and he has to do the ITB manifold still) I know I read a thread about 3 months ago talking about brake vents, is there still a strong market for this? Letme know what you think on interest.
#3
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You know, I just checked, and these rotors would work great on certain F1 cars, but I don't think they use the same technology. According to SAE 1999-01-0140 papers, the current commercial technology is inboard flow based (from hub to edge), well, I'll have a look at the corrado rotors, but I don't think they'll have this technology either(edge to hub). Their HIAF rotor in the paper that they had developed a 50/50 inboard and outboard induction design, but considering this paper was published in the 1999 its unlikely the corrado's would have that technology. (Edge to hub)
The F1 (probably long gone by now) style rotors accelerated the air into the middle and vaned it out the back, swirling it in the same fashion for maximum convection.
Have to go back to the drawing board on this, and port the air to the back of the rotor.Such a nice looking design, maybe I could move the airflow over the face like this, and put another port straight to the back of the rotor.
The F1 (probably long gone by now) style rotors accelerated the air into the middle and vaned it out the back, swirling it in the same fashion for maximum convection.
Have to go back to the drawing board on this, and port the air to the back of the rotor.Such a nice looking design, maybe I could move the airflow over the face like this, and put another port straight to the back of the rotor.
Last edited by TravisR; 01-09-2009 at 02:47 PM.
#4
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make a brake shield with 2 or 2.5" hose couplers and I'll buy them. I was going to buy them from ISC racing or whatever, but they won't fit on sport brakes. You have roughly 1-week to make it happen or I have to make my own, lol.
we need this:
Make sure the opening points to just above the hub part, so the air goes through the rotor. Also, make it out of metal or something cheap...no one here will pay $$$ for carbon fiber, but I think many would buy this **** if it were cheap and easy to install. It would also be a plus if we could get a kit for the r-pack lip.
http://www.nerp.biz/installation_pics_mini.html
or this:
but it needs to fit sport and or corrado rotors.
we need this:
Make sure the opening points to just above the hub part, so the air goes through the rotor. Also, make it out of metal or something cheap...no one here will pay $$$ for carbon fiber, but I think many would buy this **** if it were cheap and easy to install. It would also be a plus if we could get a kit for the r-pack lip.
http://www.nerp.biz/installation_pics_mini.html
or this:
but it needs to fit sport and or corrado rotors.
Last edited by hustler; 01-09-2009 at 02:52 PM.
#5
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Yea, that's what I had in mind whenever fidgitk said what he said. I'm glad he said something. I always try to design my parts from the latest SAE articles, that away I know its cutting edge, and the best of the best. It hadn't occurred to me the latest SAE articles don't use Miata's 1980's brake technology.
I have test brackets coming in today for the brake swap, when I get those, I'll look at what I can do about a rear brake vent director.
I'm still going to see what I can do about venting air over the rotor so I can keep that hunk of carbon by the brake. I can make it an option item for you cheap skates.
I have test brackets coming in today for the brake swap, when I get those, I'll look at what I can do about a rear brake vent director.
I'm still going to see what I can do about venting air over the rotor so I can keep that hunk of carbon by the brake. I can make it an option item for you cheap skates.
#6
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Yea, that's what I had in mind whenever fidgitk said what he said. I'm glad he said something. I always try to design my parts from the latest SAE articles, that away I know its cutting edge, and the best of the best. It hadn't occurred to me the latest SAE articles don't use Miata's 1980's brake technology.
I have test brackets coming in today for the brake swap, when I get those, I'll look at what I can do about a rear brake vent director.
I'm still going to see what I can do about venting air over the rotor so I can keep that hunk of carbon by the brake. I can make it an option item for you cheap skates.
I have test brackets coming in today for the brake swap, when I get those, I'll look at what I can do about a rear brake vent director.
I'm still going to see what I can do about venting air over the rotor so I can keep that hunk of carbon by the brake. I can make it an option item for you cheap skates.
I don't know that we need a rear duct. Use the sheetmetal so you can sell a ton of them, rather than 4 sets for rich people. Diminishing returns on lightness ftl.
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I was going to make the vent that goes into the back of the rotor out of aluminum or carbon whatever is cheaper. Carbon vents on the back probably wouldn't be but 30 or so buck a piece to bond and put together. In all actaulity by the time I waterjet cut aluminum and weld them together, I'd be at about the same price. I'll do it in the cheapest way possible that works well just like the oil pump gears that were 250 dollars under the nearest competitor.
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Any reason one couldn't just route flexible hose and mount up something that vents right in front of the rotor? Does a metal shield really improve the flow the the rotors that much. You could get nearly as close with a simple hose, no?