Question for the rock-crawling crowd

[ScrappyLaptop]

This is an amazing bespoke (because it's the current trendy word, apparently meaning "custom built for one purpose") vehicle is for rock crawling. Not my thing at my age, but I do get it. And the custom drivetrain is pretty fascinating all on its own.

My question is: Why are there extra disk brakes at each end of of the front and rear driveshafts?

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/wallace-tube-chassis-rock-crawler-buggy/7388480249.html

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[rydfree]

I think those are the main brakes . That build does not have a brake disk on each wheel , or does it ?

 

[RecoilOperated]

This is an extreme version of inboard brakes, where the brakes are mounted to the chassis instead of the wheel hubs. It's done on some racecars and on a few factory off-road vehicles like the HMMWV and the Unimog for different purposes (reducing unspring weight, taking braking force off of the control arms, taking vulnerable brake lines up out of harms way, etc). In this case they have them mounted directly on the driveline I would assume because they suspension is capable of such extreme articulation it would be hard to safely run a flexible brake line that wouldn't bind or be unreasonably long.

 

[ScrappyLaptop]

This is an extreme version of inboard brakes, where the brakes are mounted to the chassis instead of the wheel hubs. It's done on some racecars and on a few factory off-road vehicles like the HMMWV and the Unimog for different purposes (reducing unspring weight, taking braking force off of the control arms, taking vulnerable brake lines up out of harms way, etc). In this case they have them mounted directly on the driveline I would assume because they suspension is capable of such extreme articulation it would be hard to safely run a flexible brake line that wouldn't bind or be unreasonably long.

I understand now, thank you! Ever since I was a kid I've loved purpose built machinery. Partly because it's unique enough that most of the time far more work goes into it, partly because it's a mystery trying to figure out why something is different from a mass produced object, and partly just because the work is usually just beautifully done.

Thanks again!

 

[WOADKIL]

This is how Jaguar XKE rocked their rear axle brakes:

Less unsprung weight at the wheels for a true sports car.​

 

[Dereku]

The purpose behind pinion brakes other than what was previously mentioned is mechanical efficiency. They are prior to the gear reduction in the axle so the braking force is essentially multiplied verses wheel brakes.

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