Are Brake Caliper Brackets Side Specific?

If you drive a car, the chances are good that it has disk brakes. And if you have disk brakes, then there is a good chance that the brake caliper brackets are improperly installed. The issue is not brand specific -- the majority of aftermarket caliper brackets do not follow proper torque specifications, and you must reinstall them in such instances. Is it true that these brackets are side-specific, or are they interchangeable?

Are brake caliper brackets specific to any side?

Yes and no. Caliper brackets are specific to the side of the vehicle, but they can be reversed so that they will mount on either side. Some cars have their brake calipers on the left, some on the right, and some on both sides of the vehicle. The caliper brackets will be installed differently depending upon where on the car they are located.

The mounting holes on the caliper bracket (in the US, at least) are identical in size and spacing. So, you can mount a caliper on either side of the fork.

However, there are some issues with this. The primary problem is that if you mount the brake caliper brackets to one side, you will have the brake line run across your vehicle, crossing over the top tube. This creates two problems: 

1) It causes extra friction in your brake system
2) It's an eyesore, resulting in a poor-looking design of the vehicle too.

Does it matter where the brake caliper is mounted?

It is a common misconception that the front brake caliper should be mounted. However, this is only true in most cases and not always.
The first and perhaps most common location is a "side-mounted," or floating caliper. This caliper type has rubber hoses connecting to the brake at the top and bottom, with a metal line connecting the sides. The second type of mounting is called a "tea-tray" mount, where the caliper is bolted to the axle housing (or center link). Finally, there is an "axle mounted" setup, where the caliper is bolted to the hub, and the rotor is bolted to the caliper.

Closing thoughts

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Performance Overview of the 2021 Ford Mustang

The Mustang is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated sports cars in America; it brings power to the masses. Right from its introduction in the early 60’, this iconic care has provided RWD excitement to the next level, and the best part was its relatively affordable prices tag (which still holds true in 2021!). What’s even better is the fact that you can add high-performance Mustang drift parts and numerous other parts to increase its already pumped up performance level.

When the current iteration arrived in the market, it came equipped with an independent rear suspension, which proved to be a game changer. The car, now in terms of its performance, became more capable, as well as refined. Like it has always been the case, it’s available as a convertible or coupe. For the top-notch variants, you have the high-performance Shelby variants. The Mustang GT Coupe has also been a critically acclaimed car, with it bagging numerous accolades since its inception. Seeing its massive popularity, the Mustang title was recently applied to Ford's first official high-performance electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E.

Performance Aspect

At present, all the Mustangs variants are RWD, except for the GT500. The entry-level Mustang gets powered by a 2.3L turbo-four that makes 310 horses of power in the EcoBoost spec, and 330 horses in the High-Performance spec. Both the variants make 350 lb-ft torque.

The Coyote variant is a 5L V-8 powered engine that produces a massive 460 horses of power in the regular GT form, and it is 20 horses more for the Mach 1 and Bullitt models. As for the torque, it remains the same, standing at 420 lb-ft. During a recent testing session, the automatic Mustang GT convertible reached from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.2 seconds. The manual Bullitt, on the other hand took about 4.6 seconds. As for the manual Mach 1, it was approximately 4.2 seconds.

The GT500 is equipped with a model-specific powertrain setup. This variant is supercharged 5.2L V-8 engine that churns a behemoth figure of 760 horsepower. The torque figure is close to 625 lb-ft, which is all made possible, thanks to a seven-speed dual-purpose clutch.

Electric Fans Are Better Than Engine Driven Fans

It is just amazing how versatile top electric cooling fans are. They can work with different vehicles and prove useful for different driving situations. Overheating is not good for cars. Electric fans make sure that the movement of air around the radiator’s fins stays optimal, which helps in preventing the problem of overheating. However, you must use top-quality fans to get the maximum benefit. Mishimoto slim electric fan 14, for instance, is a high flow fan that delivers 1300 cfm of airflow and does the job quite well.

In this blog, we will tell you all you need to know when it comes to using electric fans in cars. We have listed some points for this purpose. Let’s take a look at them.

Critical Role of Electric Fans

If our cars always remained in motion, then we would never require any electric fan as the ambient air flow would have kept the car’s coolant cool. But as we all know, our vehicles need to come to a halt and when they do, ambient air flow won’t be present. This is where electric fans come in, which provide the necessary air flow needed to cool down things.

Functions of Electric Fans

One of the chief functions of electric fans is to keep the engine cool and make the air conditioning optimal when the vehicle is idle. However, the benefit of using electric fans do not just end there. It is wise to replace the engine driven fan with electric fans if you want better horsepower and fuel economy. These improvements become possible after installing electric fans as the engine drag from moving the fan is gone.

Selecting An Electric Fan

When shopping for an appropriate electric fan for your driving needs and car, we will advise you to first find out your air flow requirements. A racing, performance vehicle will need a different kind of fan while a mild weekend cruiser will need a specific fan. You should get a fan by matching the cubic feet per minute of the fan to your vehicle’s performance level.

If interested, you can buy electric fans online from some top websites that specialize in selling performance parts and components for cars. We will recommend you to buy Mishimoto slim electric fan 14 as it has great reviews online.

Brake Caliper Brackets: Explained

What is a brake caliper and how does it work?

A Caliper is a small yet integral part of the disc braking systems. It is most commonly seen in today’s vehicles. Hydraulic pressure facilitates the procedure of braking. When you trigger the braking system, force is applied by the liquids. While examining the wheel, you can easily locate the brake rotor which spins with the wheel and every rotor is held by a pair of brake pads. These pads act as a clamp which is known as the brake caliper which is fixed by adapter brackets. Every time you apply force on the brake pedal, these calipers press against the rotor and each other which enables the vehicle to slow down. A bicycle also runs on the same principle. The friction caused by the braking system decreases speed and calipers to squeeze.

Determining the condition of a brake caliper bracket

Brake caliper are made to last longer whereas your brake pedals are supposed to wear off with usage. It doesn’t require replacement as it doesn’t wear out. That said, they can fail at times. How do you know? This is how –

During an Inspection – Corrosion, dirt, leak and many other small problems that arise during the course of the life of the vehicle. These problems when overlooked can cause the caliper to not function to its capabilities. So, getting regular maintenance checks for your vehicle is ideal. This prevents any major issues to surface which also helps the caliper to not be stuck or open. Moreover, you should look to get your vehicle inspected once a year.

Your vehicle runs one sided – Cheap brake repair often leads to a caliper going bad. When the brake pads aren’t balanced it causes the vehicle to drive to one side even when you are trying to drive straight. It might also trigger vehicle alignment issues. When a caliper is stuck and the pads don’t release the rotor, the vehicle starts pulling to one side. This can also be noticed when your tires need to be replaced.

Fluid coming out of your brake system – Sometimes a brake caliper starts dissipating fluid. This is quite dangerous as your brake pedal starts losing pressure and thus the pressure isn’t enough to slow the vehicle down. Don’t ignore this issue as it can cause an accident, getting your vehicle towed is the only option. Do not drive your vehicle to the repair shop.

Strange noises – One of the most common problem every vehicle owner faces once in their lifetime is a problem associated with strange noises that only are heard when brakes are applied. This could be a huge giveaway to the fact that your brake caliper is broken. It is quite difficult to distinguish between a broken caliper or a worn-out brake pad.

The Thing With Brake Calipers - Functionality and Operation

Brake calipers are important to your car's ability to stop. They are unarguably one of the most critical automobile brake parts. While most cars today have disc brakes for the front wheels, some vehicles use disc brakes in the rear, especially performance cars.

Therefore, in a disc braking system, the car's wheels are attached to metal discs or rotors that spin along with the wheels. The caliper's job is to progressively slow the car's wheels by creating friction with the rotors.

This blog is the ultimate guide to the functionality and operation of brake calipers in the motor vehicle.

In every motor wheel, there's a motion of wheels that needs to be controlled. Brakes do it. Brake caliper brackets form a part of the whole disc brake system, which happens to be the most common thing in today's automotive.

Two Functions of Brake Calipers:

Their first function is to house and guide the brake pads. It ensures that the brake pads are in the proper position to move onto the rotor every time you apply the brakes. In addition, brake calipers feature a design that ensures compensation for the wear on the brake pads.

Their second function is to provide a hydraulic actuation that converts brake fluid pressure into mechanical movement. It's this movement that enables braking actions in motor vehicles. Therefore, it can be said that a brake caliper is a stoppage device that helps to ensure safe driving. The disc brake system would be of no use without it.

What happens when a brake caliper goes bad?

When your calipers are worn out, the brake pads wear unevenly. If they are thinner on one side, this may be a sign of a run-down caliper. Another sign might be reduced brake power.

Approximate cost to replace calipers:

On average, the customers are required to pay around $300 to $800 to get their calipers replaced. Similarly, the cost of a caliper bracket kit ranges between $250 to $350 depending upon where you buy them.

Brake calipers and caliper brackets are also available separately by manufacturers. Again, searching online might help you in this case.

Mod Consideration For Your S550 Ford Mustang

Being a sports car enthusiast is a passion that needs no introduction. Like a moth is attracted towards the light, an enthusiast is attracted to its destiny focused on the automobile. Talking further onto the very same topic, if you got your hands on S550 Mustang, keep in mind that there’s no shortage of performance upgrades and mustang drift parts available to get the most of your car.

We know that as a Mustang Owner and that too of S550, the mod bug is bound to strike you. So, whether you wish for better handling or about the added horsepower, tons of aftermarket manufacturers offer these accessories in all shapes and sizes.

Some mods that people like to employ on their Mustangs are:

• Sport suspension System – The case of the first-gen Mustang had a con. Road handling was never the friendly part of the car. However, this came as an improvement in other gens that rolled out year after year after that. As a mod lover, if you desire to add a great level aftermarket suspension, you can do it as it will increase the car’s grip and comfortability in every type of terrain.

• Brake Kit – Before you get carried away with turning your Mustang into extremely versatile turns, it is essential to know how to make it stop at variable speeds. Thankfully, S550 Mustang already rolled out with good grips, but if you want your Mustang focused all towards performance, consideration of performance brake kits can be of great help.

• Clutch Kit – Once you made your car eligible for high horsepower, consideration for a heavier clutch becomes essential. In such scenarios, if you leave your car with stock clutches, you’ll be all left with smoking your way through all the way.

Why such mods? We understand that being a car enthusiast is exactly like climbing a ladder. You move one step and desire to go more to find out what is up. Owning a Mustang and doing mods in it is a no going back journey because once you go that way, that desire holds you up for more.

The Science of Brake Calipers

Like many of us, busy in the mundane routine of everyday life, we don’t always understand vehicle maintenance, but we do know its importance. While we understand the value of periodic maintenance of a car, we always focus on the performance of the engine, be it a two-wheeler or four-wheeler. But one important thing which, as a vehicle owner, you should keep in mind is that Wilwood brake calipers are also among the crucial parts of any vehicle’s engine. This blog will surely discuss the same in detail.

If your car or bike is equipped with a disc brake, then brake calipers are very critical to slowing and stopping your car. It plays an important role in the disc braking system and is usually firm with two functions. The first is to act either as a bracket to support the brake pads on either side of the rotor or to support the brake caliper itself. And second is that it uses pistons to convert pressure exerted on brake fluid to friction on the rotor. So, in simple terms, we can understand that a brake caliper’s purpose is to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor in order to stop the car.

In general, brake pads and rotor wheels tend to wear out with time. They need replacement far more number times than calipers. So, a leading cause that is said to damage calipers is to drive with worn-out pads. It can also be done by warped rotors. Typically, brake calipers are known to go bad after about 75,000 miles, and that too because the rubber seal hardens and crack over time, which can cause-

• The caliper to leak

• The caliper piston to not fully retract
 
• Guide pins sticking out, leading to uneven pad wear.

So, it is considered smart to check your calipers out at regular intervals. However, you can wait until you get to notice the signs of caliper failure, but it is generally advised not to wait for that moment because once a caliper fails, you no longer could stop your vehicle. Hence, replacing your calipers is the best idea at specific intervals so that you and your vehicle remain safe and sound.

Technical Info On The Working OF Electric Fan

Electric fans are undeniably, the very need of summers in every household when the atmospheric temperature seems to go above normal comfort levels of the body. Mishimoto slim electric fan 14 rotates, blows air away, and speeds up the evaporation process, thereby resulting in cooling of the human body and room.

Components of Electric Fan:

Capacitors – Capacitors are used in an electric fan. Capacitors store energy, and this stored energy is used to rotate the fan from rest. So, this capacitor helps in increasing the torque of the motor and allows it to move rapidly.

Axle – Axle, or also known as shaft, is a sort of metallic rod which is mostly made up of mild steel. It stays at rest position while the bearings supporting the housing over it tend to rotate. It is also acquired of the arrangements for transfer of current to stator windings. Let us move t stator winding next.

Stator Winding – Stator Windings simply means that thousands of turns of electric wire on any non-conducting structure such as a coil.

Blades – Blades or wings are the hanging part bolted on the outer area of housing. Usually, three blades are used, and their length and throw of the angle depending upon the size and capacity of the electric motor.

Housing – Housing is considered as the outer part of the electric fan, which is known to carry stator, rotor, and drive shift bearing assembly on the inside and blades on the outside.

Working Principle Of Electric Fan:

Electric fans are known to work on the principle of conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy. In this case, the mechanical energy is consumed as the rotatory motion of the fan blades. When stator winding energizes, it develops the rotating magnetic field, and it forces the rotator to rotate in the same direction as the rotating magnetic field. So, in such a way, electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy, which makes the rotor to rotate and housing to spin and the blades attached with the housing assist in throwing the air nearby, thus ultimately creating a cooling effect.

Some Upgrades You Must Consider For Your Drifting Car

Drifting is high-octane motorsport in which the rear slip angle is greater than the front. Whenever the vehicle turns, the front wheels aim in a different direction. To maintain control of the vehicle throughout a corner, the driver employs specialized skills. This style of driving is extremely difficult, and to maximize performance, the car requires special drift car parts. If you're a drift driver, get the caliper, hydro mount plate, heads, and squad shirts you need from a reputable one-stop-shop for drift automotive components and advice. Here are a few things you need to upgrade in your E46 drift car.

A well-fitting seat

A driver seat can be found in any ordinary vehicle, but not all of them are suitable for drifting. Let us all accept that no one is fine. When designing chairs, car makers take into account a wide range of shapes and sizes. Look for drifting car seat websites if you really want your vehicle to be able to drift. Seats that have been FIA homologated and are specifically built for extreme sports are available from some retailers.

Clutch

The clutch controls transmission lines by connecting two or more rotating shafts. It is an essential element of the vehicle since it is in charge of any operation you perform. A high-quality clutch that supports your car's power and the grip level is needed for drifting. This system can assist you in controlling your movement if you become violent while driving, based on your racing ability.

Wheels

The weight of everything within the vehicle is carried by the wheels. The wheels will help your movements, whether you make a sudden turn or a speed drift. Tires made of inferior materials can cause discomfort and accidents while driving. This is why officers are supposed to get their wheels tested any time they get behind the wheel.

If you are looking for components that are suitable for an E46 drift car, you can search for them online.

Good Calipers Gone Bad: Top 3 Signs That You Need to Replace Them Today

Brake calipers are one of the most vital parts of your vehicle’s braking system. However, if the mention of brake calipers sounds gibberish to you, this blog might be able to help you. It’s highly unlikely for us to pay attention to any of the car parts until and unless your car starts to disfunction. In case your car’s braking system has been giving you a hard time for a while, here are a few signs indicating that you need to replace your brake calipers.

Sign 1: Squealing or Metallic Noise

While applying brakes if you can hear a squealing sound similar to two metals rubbing against each other, it’s because the brake calipers are sticking up along the way or freezing up. The constant wear and tear have ruined the surface of the calipers, thus, requires replacement.

Sign 2: Fluid Leaks

Brake calipers function with the help of hydraulic pressure. Any flaw within the system can lead to the leak of the brake fluid from pistol steel or bleeder screw. If you see a wet, oily spot inside the tire or over the ground when your vehicle is parked, it’s time for you to replace it with a good quality brand of calipers such as Wilwood brake calipers.

Sign 3: Vehicle Start to Get Pulled On One Side

This is one of the most prominent signs. While driving, if you experience that your vehicle is getting pulled to one side, it’s because one of the pistons of the brake calipers working in response to the hydraulic pressure has frozen due to the presence of dirt, debris, or rust. In another case, the system may fail to release the rotor. In the former case, the vehicle pulls away from the damaged side and in the latter case, the vehicle gets pulled towards the damaged side.

Look out for these signs and drive safe always!

Some Ways To Improve Your Car’s Stopping Performance

When it comes to drifting, you need to understand that your usual car and its normal parts are not designed to endure the fierce nature of drifting. Drift cars are different as they contain specific parts and components that are built for the purpose of drifting. You can by all means use your existing car for drifting but make sure you get specific parts replaced in it for drifting. For instance, racing brake calipers are a must if you want your car to drift properly.

In this blog, our focus will be on deceleration. We have listed down some points for this purpose. Let’s take a look at them.

• Disc brakes are used greatly by most drifters as they offer incredible heat rejection and amazing serviceability. The major components of disc brakes include brake rotors, brake lines, brake pads, and brake calipers. All of these components together enable the disc brakes to perform well so that you can drift your car perfectly.

• In order to better your car’s braking performance, you should first focus on increasing disc radius. You will get more brake torque if you opt for bigger discs. This becomes possible as pressure gets applied at a bigger radius by the brake pad, which results in higher moment.

• Increment in the caliper piston area is also needed in order to better braking. You get more area that will put in pressure if you go bigger sized pistons or more pistons. More area and constant pressure results in more force applied.

• The next thing you need to keep in mind is increasing line pressure. This pressure can be increased in a very simple ways, which is pushing the car brakes quite strongly. You can also better line pressure by developing a bigger lever arm for the brake pedal to work on. If you this method, then you will also notice a increase in brake torque as well.

The main goal should be on using racing brake calipers. These calipers will better your car’s deceleration. The good thing is, you can make all the above-mentioned changes in your car’s braking system by visiting websites online that are dedicated to selling parts and components to improve your drifting capability and educate your more about drifting.

Useful information on Brake Caliper Cleaning and Lubrication

While you are going for a brake service, you cannot ignore the rust buildup on the calipers and its lubrication. Ignoring these two would cause unexpected brake noise and increased stopping distance. A number of auto experts recommend a careful cleaning and lubricating of all caliper brackets, including the 240sx dual caliper bracket and all its mounting points. This will allow for the best caliper/pad movement so that maximum brake performance and customer satisfaction is ensured. In this blog post, we will dive into the details of brake caliper lubrication and cleaning and provide you some useful and practical information on the same. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get into that!

To extend the life of the braking system, below are some essential points that you should adhere to:

• Use a high-quality wire brush or sand blasting to get rid of all the rust from the caliper brackets
• Clean and if necessary replace the attaching hardware
• Be sure to lubricate all the primary metal-to-rubber friction points by using a silicone lube
• You also need to lubricate all the metal-to-metal friction points by using a lube, preferably a Molybdenum Disulfide lube (Moly Lube).
• Never lubricate or apply any compounds on the backing plate
• Always use premium quality brake pads and rotors

There are two essential steps that should be considered to reduce the vibration that creates brake noise. First, you need to inspect and then replace the worn out brake hardware. Second, you need to be sure to use the right lubricant for the whole process. Properly clean and lubricate the 240sx dual bracket caliper mountings and disc pad mounting points.

The smoother is the rotor finish, the better it performs. When you drag a fingernail over the surface of the rotor, it should feel as smooth as a glass surface. Accomplishing the right rotor surface finish plays a critical in reducing noise from the brake and subsequently eliminating any sort of comebacks. Most modern rotor designs are equipped to give a mirror-like finish and they do not require any kind of additional machining before starting the installation.

Consider this post and look for high-quality 240sx dual caliper brackets if that is something you are interested in.