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Most hi performance cars and motorcycles use multi-piston calipers. 2 piston or 4 piston, even 6 piston designs.

What are the traditional advantages of these multi-piston designs? Any reasons other then economics why Honda chose a single-piston design? How does Honda achieve such strong braking performance on a non lightweight car with single piston calipers?

Also... What exactly iis a monoblock caliper? I assume a one-piece design to reduce flexing, with pads that just slip in?

wileecoyote

Please correct me if I am wrong on the following,
Multipistons design help 1. reduce taper wear on the brake pads.
2. on a larger brake pad, equalised the pressure applied to the whole area of the pad, Due to high pressure involved, brake pad backing plate did flex a small amount.

In my own opinion, Honda choose that for economic reason and the use of single piston one sided floating caliper can maximize the suspension arm length. No piston thickness on the outside of the caliper. Offset can made smaller.

Like somebody had previously said, total surface area of piston times the pressure of the brake fluid = brake force. with such a big piston and a 300mm diameter disk. Braking power is good(but not in area of fading brake performance and weight of brake) That's the reason why dwb1 and I had brake kit to improve that area.

S2kRob

Yeah, what Willie said above.

Multi piston calipers work well with larger pads, helping distribute force evenly across the pad. Also, with pistons on both sides of the caliper, clamping forces are more uniform on both sides of the rotor.

Monoblock calipers are calipers that have either been cast or machined as a single unit. Most calipers are made as halves and then bolted together. However, many race calipers (F1 comes to mind) are monoblock, as this allows greater rigidity.

Porsche is the only manufacturer to use cast monoblock calipers (manufactured by Brembo) and holds the patents to such technology.

dwb1

Cost is defiantly the reason that Honda chose the design , but the reduced size of the caliper on the outboard side of rotor makes package more compact . Car stops so well because of tires ( big foot print , sticky compound ) and weight transfer under braking . Fade ,responsive braking, and reduced weight are advantages to making changes to brake system. Multi piston calipers are used to spread pressure over large(longer) brake pads . Remember larger pads don't increase braking they improve longevity of pads only!!!!! Pistons on both sides of rotor reduce time to apply force and reduce flex of brake caliper , improving modulation.
Mono-block calipers are as said , one piece normally billet aluminum . Reduced flex is what manufacturers are trying to achieve . When building two piece calipers the trick is to improve materials and the way the two haves are put together so they are stronger than one piece mono-bloc design. The new Toyota Tundra PU uses Nissin 4 piston calipers in the front . The reason is improved performance on a vehicle that is hard on brakes.
When comparing calipers add up area of pistons on one side ( only) , to find effective area . Also master cylinder has to supply fluid to caliper and is sized for caliper on stock car.


brad