AMG Braking setup

[monster]

can someone explain why AMG is using a different braking setup for the S and CL AMGs from the lesser E, CLS, CLK, SLK AMG models. Instead of using 6 or 8piston front calipars and 4 pistion rears, the S and CL AMGs use twin sliding calipers at the front and only a single piston sliding caliper at the rear. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of each system?

[cawimmer430]

I believe the bigger, heavier and more powerful models receive the more potent brakes - because they need them.

[monster]

finally someone replied thanks cawimmer430. I want to ask why are the brake setup more powerful in a S65 than those on a E63, even though the S65 has only got a single sliding calipar rear. Perhaps the swept area of the brakes on the S65 is greater than those on a E63, but how can they achieve even pressure over the pad area with only a single piston while those on the E63 requires 4 piston at the rear. Anyone help?

[PC Valkyrie]

The majority of the stopping power comes from the front brakes. With the more powerful (and usually larger and more heavy) AMG models, you do need more powerful brakes than the smaller, lighter, less powerful models. The higher number of pistons used in the front brakes of the higher end models probably equates to more clamping pressure on the rotors (although I'm not entirely sure about that, as BMW continues to use a very simple braking setup and gets equally good, if not superior stopping distances for their M cars).

Having said all that, I'm sure another reason is "marketing". There is a huge price difference between the C55 AMG (4 piston in the front and 2 piston in the rear) and the ultimate SL65 or S65 AMG, and I'm sure they want to make sure the potential buyer of an SL65 or S65 feel like he is getting the absolute best brakes possible. Another factor is cosmetics. Larger, more fancy brakes LOOK better visually and is another part of the "bling" factor.

[monster]

hey PC Valkyrie did u notice the new SL65 or SL55 switch from the previous 8 pistion front back to 6 piston front after the facelifts but now with composite brake discs. The front brakes on the S65 looks very different, they have a twin calipar setup on each front wheel instead of having a 6 or 8 pistion front calipars. I think they offer greater contact area with the disc.

Have a look at the photo, how many piston does the S65 front brakes have?

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[cawimmer430]

Originally Posted by monster

finally someone replied thanks cawimmer430. I want to ask why are the brake setup more powerful in a S65 than those on a E63, even though the S65 has only got a single sliding calipar rear. Perhaps the swept area of the brakes on the S65 is greater than those on a E63, but how can they achieve even pressure over the pad area with only a single piston while those on the E63 requires 4 piston at the rear. Anyone help?

No problem. Sorry I couldn't give you a more technologically sophisiticated answer. I'm no techy.