[boondocksaint]

I'm not talking about the ones used when you can't supply electical power to clutches, etc. Those are easy to find, but not for automotive applications.

I saw this on Discovery or History, one or the other. Some dude is making brake systems that are entirely frictionless, and developing them for cars.

You press the brake pedal and current runs to a magnet.

The magnet affects some sort of alloy disk that is, in a sense, your rotor. The magnetic property of the rotor causes it to slow down without touching the magnet.

Wouldn't these be awesome? No more pads. No more dust. I wish I could find it online, but I can't seem to locate it.

[luSTI]

Very interesting concept, cant imagine how strong the magnet and electric current would have to be to equal the braking force of conventional disk brakes. Id like to see more about it.

[La Mer]

ya i saw the same show. quite innovative.

www.landspeed.com is the car using these brakes.

[nandanrp]

What happens when you have a battery/alternator failure while driving? It's happened to me before (not in the STi).

lol, you'd wipe hard drives out within 10 ft of your car every time you brake

[Turninconcepts.com]

So basically like a maglev train. Hmmmm... I wonder how quickly they could haul you down to speed.

[lackskill]

Originally Posted by Turninconcepts.com

So basically like a maglev train. Hmmmm... I wonder how quickly they could haul you down to speed.

And more importantly how much all of this would weigh...

[scubadiver424]

Yeah i saw that show as well, they used them cause the wheels were some sort of steel because rubber would just burn up

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by nandanrp

What happens when you have a battery/alternator failure while driving? It's happened to me before (not in the STi).

lol, you'd wipe hard drives out within 10 ft of your car every time you brake

H8rade! I'm certain there'd be a back-up or fail-safe system with it. Even elevators have emergency brakes.

As far as weight, well, you gain the weight of a magnet, but you loose the weight of a caliper, brake fluid, brake pump, etc. I think calling it even is a conservative estimate, but again, these are a ways off (if they ever materialize at all). I do think it's an excellent idea, though.

[nandanrp]

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

H8rade! I'm certain there'd be a back-up or fail-safe system with it. Even elevators have emergency brakes.

As far as weight, well, you gain the weight of a magnet, but you loose the weight of a caliper, brake fluid, brake pump, etc. I think calling it even is a conservative estimate, but again, these are a ways off (if they ever materialize at all). I do think it's an excellent idea, though.

No hate, just questions

[DoubleURX]

Taking it a step further, you could technically use the same magnet that stops the car to drive the car. I could see those working very well. Have any of you ever been on a roller coaster that is entirely magnetic as far as propulsion and braking go??

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by DoubleURX

Taking it a step further, you could technically use the same magnet that stops the car to drive the car. I could see those working very well. Have any of you ever been on a roller coaster that is entirely magnetic as far as propulsion and braking go??

I don't know. I'm usually too busy screaming to notice the propulsion type.

[DoubleURX]

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

I don't know. I'm usually too busy screaming to notice the propulsion type.

I can't tell if thats funny sarcastic, or not, but its pretty easy to distinguish between the entire coaster getting pulled up a hill and let go and the coaster getting shot like a slingshot from a dead stop.

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by DoubleURX

I can't tell if thats funny sarcastic, or not, but its pretty easy to distinguish between the entire coaster getting pulled up a hill and let go and the coaster getting shot like a slingshot from a dead stop.

I was serious. I never paid attention to how it was driven. I've been on one magnetic coaster, I think, if your description is accurate. I liked it most. If they'd just hurry up and develop a practical superconductor for automotive applications, we'd have high-performance electrics in a decade or less.

EDIT: And yes, I already know about the electric sports car.

[KrazyKarl]

Originally Posted by DoubleURX

Taking it a step further, you could technically use the same magnet that stops the car to drive the car. I could see those working very well. Have any of you ever been on a roller coaster that is entirely magnetic as far as propulsion and braking go??

thats called a hybrid.

these brakes are basically the same as the mechinism hybrids use for part of thier braking force (which is why the bateries get charged when you brake)

the more likely technology that will be the next step for breaks is an electric type brake that uses an electric motor to clamp the caliper down on the rotor, then berings in the caliper that roll when they hit the rotor, and this rolling action is transfered through gears to cause the caliper to clamp down on the rotor (since no electric motor would have enough torque to clamp down with enough force) so the faster you go, the harder you're able to brake.

induction braking will probably never be practical in non hybrid cars since it generates electricity that isn't used for anything on a gas only car.