Brake Ducts
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Brake Ducts
I started looking around for a brake duct solution for my S2000. I found several from MG Racing, BulletProof Automotive, and King Motorsports, but they all want about $400!!
FOR WHAT?!?!?
These solutions consist of only two carbon fiber pieces, and that's it. Not worth $400.
In the back of my mind I thought to myself, "I can do this", and this is exactly what I'm going to do.
I showed the solutions (pictures) from the above companies to my father who has been in the model airplane hobby for many years and constructs high performance airplanes out of fiberglass (I fly them...he just builds them
) . The fuselages he makes have to withstand high G's (greater than 4 in some instances), and also high temperatures (the fuselage also acts as a cowel for the engine). He said it would be rather easy to create/construct brake ducts equivalent to those of the above companies, and do it for way cheaper (his guess was around $50). Furthermore, they could be painted to any color (but not look like carbon fiber 
).
My question is, does anyone here in the valley have a set of these brake duct solutions from any of the above companies? I thought maybe I could take a real close look at them and use them as a base level design spec. Also, does anyone have any input into this? I figured I'm not the only one who might be interested in this. If so, let me know.
I'll probably start taking a real good look at all of this tomorrow.
Tom
FOR WHAT?!?!?
These solutions consist of only two carbon fiber pieces, and that's it. Not worth $400.
In the back of my mind I thought to myself, "I can do this", and this is exactly what I'm going to do.
I showed the solutions (pictures) from the above companies to my father who has been in the model airplane hobby for many years and constructs high performance airplanes out of fiberglass (I fly them...he just builds them
) . The fuselages he makes have to withstand high G's (greater than 4 in some instances), and also high temperatures (the fuselage also acts as a cowel for the engine). He said it would be rather easy to create/construct brake ducts equivalent to those of the above companies, and do it for way cheaper (his guess was around $50). Furthermore, they could be painted to any color (but not look like carbon fiber ).My question is, does anyone here in the valley have a set of these brake duct solutions from any of the above companies? I thought maybe I could take a real close look at them and use them as a base level design spec. Also, does anyone have any input into this? I figured I'm not the only one who might be interested in this. If so, let me know.
I'll probably start taking a real good look at all of this tomorrow.
Tom
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From: Phoenix
Tom,
Figure out the biggest duct that can be routed cleanly to the rotor and make sure the duct is that dia. The ducts that I saw appeared to have fairly small dia. openings. I woulld hope to get at least a 3" dia. duct to the brakes. Might not be possible though.
As far as shape, you need to get under the car, remove the plastic piece and fender liner. This should expose the back of the uncut brake duct area. I believe there are two mounting points that can be used. It will also show how big of a rectangular area you can make the duct, to ensure covering the cross section.
We can work at getting to the area at my house if you like. Plan on most of the day to come up with a design that you can use for a mold. Probably use something like clay to work into a shape.
Neil
Figure out the biggest duct that can be routed cleanly to the rotor and make sure the duct is that dia. The ducts that I saw appeared to have fairly small dia. openings. I woulld hope to get at least a 3" dia. duct to the brakes. Might not be possible though.
As far as shape, you need to get under the car, remove the plastic piece and fender liner. This should expose the back of the uncut brake duct area. I believe there are two mounting points that can be used. It will also show how big of a rectangular area you can make the duct, to ensure covering the cross section.
We can work at getting to the area at my house if you like. Plan on most of the day to come up with a design that you can use for a mold. Probably use something like clay to work into a shape.
Neil
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I thought I would post some information regarding my progress.
Today I dremeled out the two fake side vents. This was not very difficult. The following is a picture:
Looking at the left side vent (looking at the car from the front), you can see that there is plenty of space to house a duct of some sort. The right side is not quite so easy. I don't have a picture (the one I had was blurry, and now it's dark), but there is a brace that is fairly close to where the exit of the duct would have to go (i.e. the exit being the wheel well side).
Studying the car I think it would be quite feasible to make a duct that would be the exact same shape as the vent inlet, make a turn towards the center of the car and then turn rearwards out of the wheel well. For those of you familiar with the C5 Vette, this is exactly how it is done. My father has one, and we were studying how this unit acts. Shouldn't be difficult.
I'll continue to update my progress as I go.
Tom
Today I dremeled out the two fake side vents. This was not very difficult. The following is a picture:
Looking at the left side vent (looking at the car from the front), you can see that there is plenty of space to house a duct of some sort. The right side is not quite so easy. I don't have a picture (the one I had was blurry, and now it's dark), but there is a brace that is fairly close to where the exit of the duct would have to go (i.e. the exit being the wheel well side).
Studying the car I think it would be quite feasible to make a duct that would be the exact same shape as the vent inlet, make a turn towards the center of the car and then turn rearwards out of the wheel well. For those of you familiar with the C5 Vette, this is exactly how it is done. My father has one, and we were studying how this unit acts. Shouldn't be difficult.
I'll continue to update my progress as I go.
Tom
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Tanq,
Believe it or not, but there are two mount points inside (just above and below where the vents are). If you get under your car with a flash light and look inside behind the vents you can see them. It looks like Honda must have had intentions to either 1) have brake ducts for the S2000, or 2) provide something in the future. The grills I got from Coastal Metals came with hardware to mount onto these two mount points.
Tom
Believe it or not, but there are two mount points inside (just above and below where the vents are). If you get under your car with a flash light and look inside behind the vents you can see them. It looks like Honda must have had intentions to either 1) have brake ducts for the S2000, or 2) provide something in the future. The grills I got from Coastal Metals came with hardware to mount onto these two mount points.
Tom
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From: Flagstaff, AZ
Tanq,
I seem to remember a post (which I can't find) talking about this - the original Coastal Metal grills were shipped w/o the hardware, but if you call them they'll send it. This could be some wierd dream I had after too much red red wine & listening to Neil Diamond, but I'd give them a buzz....
Dave
I seem to remember a post (which I can't find) talking about this - the original Coastal Metal grills were shipped w/o the hardware, but if you call them they'll send it. This could be some wierd dream I had after too much red red wine & listening to Neil Diamond, but I'd give them a buzz....
Dave