What is the brake rotor/caliper do on the differential on this truck? It appears very similar to the middle drive axle.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/264582...-3500-quad-cab

 

Better pic of the 6x6 drivetrain.

 

It's a pinion brake. It is the cheapest way to put disc brakes on a rockwell axle.

 

While that is also correct the real answer is because the brake being on the pinion uses the mechanical advantage of the gearing to help stop the tires.

Basically one rotor/caliper combo would be 1:1 if it were on the end of the axle like in most all conventional truck axles and its 6.72:1 being on the pinion of a 2.5t rockwell axle.

 

Are there brakes on the wheels as well or is all of the braking done there?

Sorry for the noob questions. Do they have a similar thing for the rear axle?

 

There will not be a braking system on the outer hubs of the axles like on a regular truck. The rotor/caliper you see sticking off the pinion is all that stops the truck and yes there is also a setup exactly like this on the rear axle(s)

 

Obvious negative to traction control systems, why else isn't this done on more vehicles?

Would be very easy to attach an electric motor/alternator to that output for regenerative braking.

 

The simple/quick answer is because the gear reduction from braking the pinion is not needed on a 1/2-1ton truck . Its also known for putting foreheads through windshields when you push the pedal a little too hard.

There are a few companies selling brake kits like thisbut they are most commonly mounted at the t-case and are usually for a parking brake only. It would work for a regular brake though - provided you have one on the front AND rear output AND you ran in 4wd ALL the time.

 

Oh, many new cars do have electric brakes

 

A pinion brake as such has multiple disadvantages, one being rotor speed, with a 46" tire, the tire and wheel brakes would have been turning 446 revs per mile, but, with the rotor turning at driveline speed, you multiply that by 6.72, making it turn 2997 revs per mile. At 60 mph, the rotor is turning at what would be over 400 mph wheel speed. This quite obviously is extremely hard on any brake components you might put on there.
The other disadvantage is without a locked/spooled differential, if one wheel looses traction you might as well not have any brakes at all on that axle.

Pinion brakes are OK for a low speed trail rig, or as a parking brake setup, but they are definitely not something I would recommend for road use.

 

ya stupid break system for on road. shoulda just kept the stock drums

 

update? pics?







:flipoff2:

 

Hahahahaha!

Dan, its not like you have any valuable information to give on the brake topic.

Plus, I'm bored.

 

i could talk about pinion brakes, but pretty much all i know got covered already. plus, op, pinion brakes are not d.o.t. approved in any states as far as i know because of the reasons mentioned in here. people go with them as they are a cheap braking option and also shave a ton of weight off of rockwell axles. you can buy standard hub type disck conversions for rocks, but they aren't cheap.

 

Dont forget to add what happens when you break your pinion or ring gear with a pinion brake.