While rotating the tires on my wife's '10 Fusion, I noticed all 4 calipers clamp the front of the rotors; my Explorer has the calipers behind the rotors. Anyone know if there's a performance advantage to either set-up, or is it due to FWD vs RWD, suspension design or............?

Steve

 

It's usually manufacturer's discretion, I know the early GM rear disks used the same calipers on both sides, one to the front and one to the rear.

 

It doesn't matter (performance wise), but it needs to be at the front or the back (it can't be at the top or the bottom, otherwise you distort the rotor when braking - particularly if you are cornering at the same time)
Most performance cars will place the caliper at whatever end of the rotor it is harder to get air too (for cooling). On regular cars that isn't an issue.

 

Adrian -

Wouldn't the folks who make performance cars want the caliper at the end of the rotor that's EASIER to catch airflow?

Steve

 

Because the other end of the rotor that doesn't have a caliper over it has a lot more surface area exposed, its better to get the cooling area there.

 

Gotcha - the rotor would get much hotter than the caliper and needs the airflow.

Steve