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Running rotors smaller than caliper designed for


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Guys,

 

So I have scored some decent wilwood calipers from ruggedbert the other night, but I have a question. The rotors that came with them are 12.19" I believe, however the caliper in question (older Integra 4) is supposed to run 12.90" rotors (confirmed that this information: http://www.hotrodheaven.com/store/brakes/wilwood/products/calipers/igtc/mounting.html is correct according to wilwood customer service).

 

I've asked them but they haven't responded: Is it a huge deal to run 12.19" rotors on a caliper and pad designed for 12.90"? The worst I can see happening is the pad will wear in a slightly odd sort of way, with perhaps bits that don't wear at all? Am I missing something?

 

Dave

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I can't see why it would be a problem.

 

So long as the caliper and pad fully encompass the disc without fouling or having parts of the pad not touching the contact area of the disc it shouldn't be an issue. I know for instance that on my car i have had to mount the calipers closer to the hub so that the caliper doesn't foul against the wheel. This has not caused a single issue yet (couple years now) and the only thing that i can imagine would be a downside is that the length from the centre of the hub to the centre of the contact patch is shorter and so the caliper will have to apply more force than original design to slow the car at the same speed. That means to lock the wheels now requires more pressure from the caliper onto the rotor.

 

I'm pretty sure that things like calipers are sufficiently over designed so as to not be an issue. i.e. the caliper oil seals shouldn't leak, the brake system should be able to hand a little more pressure and the rotors are unlikely to collapse.

 

0.7" is not much and I doubt it would be an issue.

 

Anyone else out there with more experience than me, or maybe a mech eng, could help a little more?

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Like i said, just make sure that the whole pad is on the disc on the proper contact area.

 

Contact areas of rotors are bigger than the pad usually so you should be able to get the entire pad on a slightly smaller disc without a problem.

 

The disc can cut the pad, leaving some pad thicker than the rest, or the pad can even wear down the rotor at the lip if the pad isnt positioned properly

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