Carbon disks, why so expensive ?

[J4CKO]

Given that Carbon is the most abundant element in the Universe and they have been around ages, am surprised that they have not migrated down.

Is it a case of there is no point for anything below something 500 bhp plus and the manufactureres are keeping them as a super premium option or are four carbon disks and some pads really ten grands worth ?

[SSBB]

Hydrogen is the most abundant element

[new_bloke]

They're not *just* carbon on road cars though - they're a funky carbon / ceramic composite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_brake#Ceramic_co...

[rohrl]

It takes about three weeks to make a carbon brake disc so unsurprisingly they're rather more expensive than a cast-iron item.

http://www.renm-performance.com/blog/brembo-sgl-ca...

[J4CKO]

SSBB said:

Hydrogen is the most abundant element

Just checking !

[J4CKO]

rohrl said:

It takes about three weeks to make a carbon brake disc so unsurprisingly they're rather more expensive than a cast-iron item.

http://www.renm-performance.com/blog/brembo-sgl-ca...

Cant really beleive some companies can make a whole car for less than some disks though.

[SSBB]

J4CKO said:

rohrl said:

It takes about three weeks to make a carbon brake disc so unsurprisingly they're rather more expensive than a cast-iron item.

http://www.renm-performance.com/blog/brembo-sgl-ca...

Cant really beleive some companies can make a whole car for less than some disks though.

May be economy of scale. Look at the process industries, a high alloy valve can cost tens of thousands, when all it is is forged alloy.

[Kozy]

What is the actual benefit of carbon ceramic discs?

I should imagine it's a combination of higher specific heat capacity and less mass? So they give the performance of much larger cast iron discs. But I've never actually looked it up. They are horrendously expensive, so surely they must be worth it, I just can't quite figure out how?

[rohrl]

Kozy said:

What is the actual benefit of carbon ceramic discs?

I should imagine it's a combination of higher specific heat capacity and less mass? So they give the performance of much larger cast iron discs. But I've never actually looked it up. They are horrendously expensive, so surely they must be worth it, I just can't quite figure out how?

The things you mentioned as well as longevity. So long as they're not overheated carbon discs last a lot longer than cast iron ones.

[Ian974]

t is a much more complex manufacturing process than a standard disc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_3PebbkGpo

[Harris_I]

They are priced high to give buyers reassurance that they are worth having and to inflate the manufacturer's bottom line.

Heavily discussed in Porsche forum. Here's one of many threads:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

At the risk of repeating myself the general consensus varies as follows:

Racers: "What a waste of money. Give the money to me and I'll teach you how to brake late on steels and destroy everyone on track."

Polishers: "Ooh look, I don't have to clean the brake dust off. That's defo worth 14 grand in my book."

Pub bores <nasal voice>: "Of course, it's all about the unsprung weight really. That Walter Raleigh or whatever says so. I can feel it every time I drive to Waitrose."

HTH.

[lexusboy]

I would imagine a thought process that occurs is that if you can afford said car with carbon ceramic brakes, you can afford to replace the carbon ceramic brakes

[Gixer]

Harris_I said:

They are priced high to give buyers reassurance that they are worth having and to inflate the manufacturer's bottom line.

Heavily discussed in Porsche forum. Here's one of many threads:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

At the risk of repeating myself the general consensus varies as follows:

Racers: "What a waste of money. Give the money to me and I'll teach you how to brake late on steels and destroy everyone on track."

Polishers: "Ooh look, I don't have to clean the brake dust off. That's defo worth 14 grand in my book."

Pub bores <nasal voice>: "Of course, it's all about the unsprung weight really. That Walter Raleigh or whatever says so. I can feel it every time I drive to Waitrose."

HTH.

Great post

[Matt Harper]

Harris_I said:

That Walter Raleigh or whatever says so.

Very good!