NZR Designing a braking system

[mario_82_ZXT]

Well, being Z-less really blows (or car less for that matter), so I joined the college SAE Mini Baja team.

 

Well, we have one car that's almost done, and we will be designing one from the ground up this year as well.

 

As of now I think I am going to be working/designing the braking system.

 

The car is like an oversized go-kart, with a 10hp motor, coil-over suspension, and 4 wheel disc brakes.

 

The rules are as follows:

1. There must be 2 independent brake circuits

2. The brakes must be able to lock all 4 wheels both while moving and not.

3. It must have brakes on all 4 wheels.

 

As of now, the brakes are plumbed with a reservoir/cylinder to 1 front, and 1 opposite rear. ie The front right with the left rear.

 

The car has only been run once (not competed), and they had problems with unequal braking distribution. The pedal only had one adjustment that would change both cylinders at the same time.

 

This is my idea:

Use each cylinder for either both front or both right.

 

Machine a new brake pedal to allow for two adjusters, that way the car now has control of front and rear brake bias.

 

Is it a good idea to run a front circuit seperate to the rear one? Or should I leave it crossed? I believe if a line is cut/damaged, that entire circuit loses pressure, but it would be better to have the remaining brakes on the car be either the front or rear right, not one of each?

 

Now, for performance, the front should lock before the rear right?

 

Questions, comments, suggestions, please help!

 

Thanks,

Mario

[Trevor]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Howe-Dual-Reverse-Mount-Hanging-Clutch-Brake-Pedals_W0QQitemZ8008698392QQcategoryZ33700QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem