Why is it the even the best cars have only one brake caliper on each disc? No matter how goof or strong thee brakes are, wouldnt there be additional stopping power with an additional caliper that would translate into more pad surface area in contact with the rottors? Sure there´s more unsprung weight/cost but wouldnt the added stopping power more than compensate/offset the negatives?

There has to be a very good reason.....the thing is I´m not aware of it. Can anybody enlighten me?

Thanks and best regards!

Very good question. I do not see any reason why it can not be done. Cost, less moving parts, less replacement parts and weight are my reasons for why it is not done.

I'm going to guess it has to do with thermodynamics, timing of the two calipers, a brake system strong enough to drive DUAL calipers at each wheel plus the fact that it would be total overkill.

Brake systems need to be tuned just like any other system on a car. It's very possible to have TOO much contact/grip. Imagine if you stepped on the brakes only to have them bite TOO hard, and lock up, and send your car sliding into the trees like a very expensive boulder?

Imagine trying to tune a system, so that both calipers on each wheel grab the disc at exactly the right moment, heat up the rotor (remember, kinetic energy causes heat i.e. friction) which then causes the rotor to warp....etc.

These are just my thoughts....

I think upgraded breaks usually just go w/more pistons & bigger rotors(drilled/slotted). Ours are 4 piston(I cant remember?) & there are at least 6 piston setups out there. Having two calipers would be heavier etc.

Also, keep in mind that brakes are engineered to give the maximum braking capability without locking up. It's a function of tire size, width, vehicle weight and intended use. It would be easy to lock all four wheels, but you would find that locking the wheels will actually increase the stopping distance.

the Maybach has dual front calipers... couldn't find a pic

"On the braking side, the Maybach is very well endowed. The Maybach has huge disc brake rotors at 14.8 inches up front and 14 inches in the back. The Maybach actually has six brake calipers instead of the normal four -- two calipers on each front wheel. The entire braking system is redundant and computer controlled so that the CPU can decide which calipers to activate and how much pressure to apply to each. Computer control also allows special software features to be added. For example, if your foot comes off the accelerator rapidly, the braking system notices. The braking system assumes that, a few milliseconds later, you will be hitting the brakes for a panic stop. So, during those few milliseconds, the computer can move the brake pads into position against the rotors to allow quicker brake activation."

somebody on the m3forums has this http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/image.php?u=68413&type=sigpic&dateline=1172031342

Wow...I guess I was way off then! I would have thought it'd heat the calipers up way too much and/or be too difficult to control.

there was a caliper type deal years ago (prolly 4 or 5) that went all the way around the caliper... i saw it at a technology show and they had a set on the saleen S7 but haven't seen it since... anyone know what i am refering to?

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=104&i=3053

Found it...

I don't see the advantage of two smaller calipers over one larger caliper.

The cost would be ridiculous but it can be done. I would suggest going with an upgrade or even 6 or 8 piston setups like the AMG benzes do. The S55 uses an 8 piston setup and the S65 uses dual sliding ATE calipers.

http://members.aol.com/txchansaw/brembo1.jpg

http://members.aol.com/txchansaw/brembo3.jpg

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/OB-AE853_MBS65w_20061130154407.jpg

Would AMG calipers even fit on our trucks though?

My buddies lambo's have 2 on the rear. one very large one and one small one.
just my 2 cents....

Yeah, that smaller one is actually for the E-brake. The Z06 has the same setup.

Most of the reason is cost. As blown shows, the AMG's have dual calipers. The other reason is heat dissapation. The more rotor you have exposed to air, the faster it will cool, and therefore less likely to heatsoak and fade. The amount of pistons is in relation to the clamping force that can be spread over the pad. While some of the best braking systems in the world (porsche) stick with four and six piston calipers in a small package with very large rotors and a large master cylinder and good brake tuning usually can out perform huge brake calipers such as the AMG's.

The cost would be ridiculous but it can be done. I would suggest going with an upgrade or even 6 or 8 piston setups like the AMG benzes do. The S55 uses an 8 piston setup and the S65 uses dual sliding ATE calipers.

http://members.aol.com/txchansaw/brembo1.jpg

http://members.aol.com/txchansaw/brembo3.jpg

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/OB-AE853_MBS65w_20061130154407.jpg

Those are sweet azzzz......:D

Yeah I work for Porsche and can truly say the PCCB (porsche ceramic composite brakes) systems are amazing but also BIG money.

http://www.autocity.com/img/manuales/pccb1.jpg

^ummm. Love it. I heard of a guy putting that setup on his GTI!!!!!!

Yeah I work for Porsche and can truly say the PCCB (porsche ceramic composite brakes) systems are amazing but also BIG money.

http://www.autocity.com/img/manuales/pccb1.jpg

Those exact brakes with the yellow calipers are on my neighbor's GT3. The car is white with white rims with yellow calipers and yellow seat belts. Very nice, but those brakes are an expensive upgrade.

I change my front calipers to brembo 8 piston and 15 inch rotors

I change my front calipers to brembo 8 piston and 15 inch rotors

Did you notice much of a difference?
Bill