Pad size...

[andrewb70]

Clamping force doesn't change as that's a function of caliper piston diameters, although applied pressure will vary based on area as stated above. Small pads have higher contact pressures whereas large pads have lower contact pressures given the same hydraulic force.

The brake torque however will vary primarily based on the friction coefficient of the pads since the normal force applied by the calipers is equal. Pad area and correspondingly volume can be used to increase pad life for the reasons above. You'll typically see larger pads used in endurance applications and wide annullus rotors to match for the same reasons.

Tobin

Aha! So let me rephrase please, just so I understand this correctly. Take two setups. Each having the same caliper piston area, same diameter rotors, same MC, and the same compound of brake pad, but one having a much larger pad. So the end result is that the braking performance, as measured by a 60-0 test for example, would not change. What would change is the life of the pads. So bigger pads offer greater pad life, all else being equal.

Is that correct?



Andrew