Disk brakes... have cars ever had inboard disc brakes?

[Megaflow]

900T-R said:

It was Delphi who developed that twin disc system. I drove a BMW X5 with the discs installed back in 2004 I think, on one of their ride/drive experiences.

That's the kiddie... Delphi, not TRW. I worked as chief estimator for an automotive tier 1 at the time and we did a lot of costing work on it.

Not a cheap system. The cost of the wheel hub with the axial grooves to locate the disc, but allow them to float was particualry horrific in comparison to a normal automotive hub.

[carsnapper]

I was given a gold Hummer H1 for a couple of weeks a few years ago - it was temporarily imported from the US by Perkins Diesel as a test mule - that had inboard discs. The brake fade was pretty scary from high speeds as the heat built up - it would make all manner of bizarre noises when braking, sounded more like a creaking galleon.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Honda CBX 550 and Honda VF400/VT250 had them in the early 1980's.

[hairykrishna]

Cupramax said:

angusc43 said:

Alfa dumped them when the Sud was replaced by the 33. I assume cost probably played a part in that decision.

And the fact that they were a sod to change the pads on, I seem to remember the most efficient way to change the pads was to be hung upside down from an engine hoist over the engine bay to ease access

I remember when I was a kid my dad and granddad changing the pads on my granddads Sud. Took them about a day and he sold it straight after so he'd never have to do it again!

[Megaflow]

carsnapper said:

I was given a gold Hummer H1 for a couple of weeks a few years ago - it was temporarily imported from the US by Perkins Diesel as a test mule - that had inboard discs. The brake fade was pretty scary from high speeds as the heat built up - it would make all manner of bizarre noises when braking, sounded more like a creaking galleon.

Where did you get that from? There were a few floating about at work.

[robemcdonald]

Cupramax said:

angusc43 said:

Alfa dumped them when the Sud was replaced by the 33. I assume cost probably played a part in that decision.

And the fact that they were a sod to change the pads on, I seem to remember the most efficient way to change the pads was to be hung upside down from an engine hoist over the engine bay to ease access

And you had / have to rebuild the callipers every couple of weeks otherwise they leak everywhere.
The inboards on the back of he alfetta / 75 were also a right pain to work on, I had to change the rear discs on my gtv6 once..... There was much swearing.

[chrisr29]

hairykrishna said:

Cupramax said:

angusc43 said:

Alfa dumped them when the Sud was replaced by the 33. I assume cost probably played a part in that decision.

And the fact that they were a sod to change the pads on, I seem to remember the most efficient way to change the pads was to be hung upside down from an engine hoist over the engine bay to ease access

I remember when I was a kid my dad and granddad changing the pads on my granddads Sud. Took them about a day and he sold it straight after so he'd never have to do it again!

They weren't too bad when you got the hang of them....as long as the adjusters hadn't seized and the handbrake mechanism was ok. Changing the discs was a pain though as the drive shafts had to be undone.

Worst problem though was if the crank case breather became blocked. The build up of pressure would pop the dipstick out and spray oil all over the adjacent disc causing the car to veer to one side under braking!