Misplaced Pages

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84-487: Production started in 1958 and lasted until the company ceased production in 1964. The car was based on an elongated chassis from the Facel Vega FV Coupé. It was the only four-door model the company ever made. Production ended after only 156 cars had been built. The low production figure is likely a result of the car's high purchase price listed at US$ 12,800 ($ 135,175 in 2023 official inflation dollars). When new,

168-411: A 7075 alloy and hard anodised for a lasting finish. The outer disc ring is usually manufactured from grey iron . They can also be from steel or carbon ceramic for particular applications. These materials originated from motorsport use and are available in high-performance vehicles and aftermarket upgrades. Two-piece discs can be supplied as a fixed assembly with regular nuts, bolts, and washers or

252-440: A servo-effect . By contrast, a disc brake has no self-servo effect, and its braking force is always proportional to the pressure placed on the brake pad by the braking system via any brake servo, brake pedal, or lever. This tends to give the driver a better "feel" and helps to avoid impending lockup. Drums are also prone to "bell mouthing" and trap worn lining material within the assembly, causing various braking problems. The disc

336-736: A 1956 TR3 with disc brakes to the public, but the first production cars with Girling front-disc brakes were made in September 1956. Jaguar began to offer disc brakes in February 1957 on the XK150 model, soon to follow with the Mark 1 sports saloon and in 1959 with the Mark IX large saloon. Disc brakes were most popular on sports cars when they were first introduced since these vehicles are more demanding about brake performance. Discs have now become

420-481: A Crosley HotShot with stock four-wheel disc brakes won the Index of Performance in the first race at Sebring (six hours rather than 12) on New Year's Eve in 1950. The Citroën DS was the first sustained mass production use of modern automotive disc brakes, in 1955. The car featured caliper-type front disc brakes among its many innovations. These discs were mounted inboard near the transmission and were powered by

504-402: A bike gets into a violent tank-slapper (high-speed oscillation of the front wheel) the brake pads in the calipers are forced away from the discs, so when the rider applies the brake lever, the caliper pistons push the pads towards the discs without actually making contact. The rider then brakes harder, forcing the pads onto the disc much more aggressively than standard braking. An example of this

588-431: A fixed caliper. A floating disc also avoids disc warping and reduces heat transfer to the wheel hub. Calipers have evolved from simple single-piston units to two-, four- and even six-piston items. Compared to cars, motorcycles have a higher center of mass : wheelbase ratio, so they experience more weight transfer when braking. Front brakes absorb most of the braking forces, while the rear brake serves mainly to balance

672-767: A fork brace, USD forks may be best stiffened by an oversized front axle). Bike disc brakes may range from simple, mechanical (cable) systems, to expensive and powerful, multi-piston hydraulic disc systems, commonly used on downhill racing bikes . Improved technology has seen the creation of vented discs for use on mountain bikes , similar to those on cars, introduced to help avoid heat fade on fast alpine descents. Discs are also used on road bicycles for all-weather cycling with predictable braking. By 2024, almost all road bikes are equipped with disc brakes, just like Mountain bikes. Drums are sometimes preferred as harder to damage in crowded parking, where discs are sometimes bent. Most bicycle brake discs are made of steel. Stainless steel

756-409: A four-speed manual made by Pont-à-Mousson. At this stage, the 180 hp (132 kW) FV was capable of a top speed from 172 to 193 km/h (107 to 120 mph), depending on which rear axle ratio was installed. The chassis, designed by Lance Macklin , was tubular framed, featuring coil springs and double wishbones at the front, with a leaf-sprung live rear axle. The styling, by Daninos himself,

840-457: A full modernization as a complete re-styling of the car would have been prohibitively expensive, especially given its low production figures. The chassis was updated as well, incorporating advancements introduced on the HK500, which decreased chassis flex compared to earlier models. The door handles were also changed to better latching turn-down units. The domestic market price quoted for the car at

924-564: A hood scoop not seen on later models. For the 1958 model year, Chrysler discontinued the Hemi engines, and after stocks had dried up, Facel-Vega started using the 361 CID (5.9 litre) Chrysler 'Wedge' head V8 engines. Why Facel-Vega didn't opt for the top-of-the-line 413 CID (6.9 litre) engines instead remains unknown, but the French road tax system, which is based on engine displacement, is often cited as an explanation. The 361-powered Excellence had

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1008-509: A luggage platform and additional access to the boot. In 1955 the engine capacity increased to 4.8 litres and 200 hp (147 kW) ( FV1 ). The FV1 was also 12 cm (4.7 in) longer than the original design47 of these early FVs were built in 1954 and 1955. Seven were convertibles, but as these suffered from rigidity troubles all but a handful of the rest of the large two-door Facels were pillarless coupés. Introduced in October 1955,

1092-672: A more complicated floating system where drive bobbins allow the two parts of the brake disc to expand and contract at different rates, therefore, reducing the chance a disc will warp from overheating. Key advantages of a two-piece disc are a saving in critical un-sprung weight and the dissipation of heat from the disc surface through the alloy bell (hat). Both fixed and floating options have their drawbacks and advantages. Floating discs are prone to rattle and collection of debris and are best suited to motorsport, whereas fixed are best for road use. The development of disc brakes began in England in

1176-447: A pillarless four-door mechanism, allowing the car to be designed with rear-hinged " suicide " styled rear doors for easier access and egress. The doors came in contact with a large pin installed at the door sill base that allowed either the front or rear doors to open independently of each other, and when closed, the doors added structural integrity. This layout could also be found on the limited production Cadillac Eldorado Brougham , which

1260-526: A reworked, more harmonious front end was introduced for the FV3 model, featuring what looked like twin stacked headlights but what were actually headlamps on top and auxiliaries beneath. Plymouth's Polyspheric 4.5-litre "277 Power Pack" engine replaced the DeSoto Hemi unit; maximum power was down to 200 hp (147 kW). Power steering and power brakes were both standard as of 1957. As Plymouth replaced

1344-604: A single stop. For these reasons, a heavy truck with disc brakes can stop in about 120% of the distance of a passenger car, but with drums, stopping takes about 150% of the distance. In Europe, stopping distance regulations essentially require disc brakes for heavy vehicles. In the U.S., drums are allowed and are typically preferred for their lower purchase price, despite higher total lifetime cost and more frequent service intervals. Still-larger discs are used for railroad cars , trams , and some airplanes . Passenger rail cars and light rail vehicles often use disc brakes outboard of

1428-475: A specification for the manufacture of grey iron for various applications. For normal car and light-truck applications, SAE specification J431 G3000 (superseded to G10) dictates the correct range of hardness, chemical composition, tensile strength, and other properties necessary for the intended use. Some racing cars and airplanes use brakes with carbon fiber discs and carbon fiber pads to reduce weight. Wear rates tend to be high, and braking may be poor or grabby until

1512-482: Is done mainly where the cost of a new disc may be lower than the cost of labor to resurface the old disc. Mechanically this is unnecessary unless the discs have reached the manufacturer's minimum recommended thickness, which would make it unsafe to use them, or vane rusting is severe (ventilated discs only). Most leading vehicle manufacturers recommend brake disc skimming (US: turning) as a solution for lateral run-out, vibration issues, and brake noises. The machining process

1596-439: Is performed in a brake lathe , which removes a very thin layer off the disc surface to clean off minor damage and restore uniform thickness. Machining the disc as necessary will maximize the mileage out of the current discs on the vehicle. Run-out is measured using a dial indicator on a fixed rigid base, with the tip perpendicular to the brake disc's face. It is typically measured about 1 ⁄ 2  in (12.7 mm) from

1680-414: Is preferred due to its anti-rust properties. Discs are thin, often about 2 mm. Some use a two-piece floating disc style, others use a one-piece solid metal disc. Bicycle disc brakes use either a two-piston caliper that clamps the disc from both sides or a single-piston caliper with one moving pad that contacts the disc first, and then pushes the disc against the non-moving pad. Because energy efficiency

1764-401: Is so important in bicycles, an uncommon feature of bicycle brakes is that the pads retract to eliminate residual drag when the brake is released. In contrast, most other brakes drag the pads lightly when released to minimize initial operational travel. Disc brakes are increasingly used on very large and heavy road vehicles, where previously large drum brakes were nearly universal. One reason

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1848-430: Is that the disc's lack of self-assist makes brake force much more predictable, so peak brake force can be raised without more risk of braking-induced steering or jackknifing on articulated vehicles. Another is disc brakes fade less when hot, and in a heavy vehicle air and rolling drag and engine braking are small parts of total braking force, so brakes are used harder than on lighter vehicles, and drum brake fade can occur in

1932-399: Is usually made of cast iron . In some cases, it may be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites . This is connected to the wheel and the axle . To slow down the wheel, friction material in the form of brake pads , mounted on the brake caliper , is forced mechanically, hydraulically , pneumatically , or electromagnetically against both sides of

2016-592: The Arado Ar 96 . The German Tiger I heavy tank, was introduced in 1942 with a 55 cm Argus-Werke disc on each drive shaft. The American Crosley Hot Shot had four-wheel disc brakes in 1949 and 1950. However, these quickly proved troublesome and were removed. Crosley returned to drum brakes, and drum brake conversions for Hot Shots were popular. Lack of sufficient research caused reliability problems, such as sticking and corrosion, especially in regions using salt on winter roads. Crosley four-wheel disc brakes made

2100-579: The Daimler Company used disc brakes on its Daimler Armoured Car of 1939. The disc brakes, made by the Girling company, were necessary because in that four-wheel drive (4×4) vehicle the epicyclic final drive was in the wheel hubs and therefore left no room for conventional hub-mounted drum brakes . At Germany's Argus Motoren , Hermann Klaue (1912-2001) had patented disc brakes in 1940. Argus supplied wheels fitted with disc brakes e.g. for

2184-688: The FV2 featured a panoramic (aka wrap-around) windshield. The trompe-l'œil dashboard was metal, hand painted to look like burled wood by Marcel Bigot, the head of Facel's paint department. Referred to as the FVS in the United States, the car featured the same 4.8-litre engine as in the FV1, albeit now offering 250 hp (184 kW). During 1956, the 5.4-litre FV2B appeared, with 285 hp (210 kW) and substantial added torque. One single FV2 convertible

2268-549: The Lincoln Continental . A four-wheel disc brake system was also introduced in 1965 on the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Most U.S. cars switched from front drum brakes to front disk brakes in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Lambretta introduced the first high-volume production use of a single, floating, front disc brake, enclosed in a ventilated cast alloy hub and actuated by cable, on

2352-541: The Studebaker Avanti was factory-equipped with front disc brakes as standard equipment. This Bendix system licensed from Dunlop was also optional on some of the other Studebaker models. Front disc brakes became standard equipment on the 1965 Rambler Marlin . The Bendix units were optional on all American Motors ' Rambler Classic and Ambassador models as well as on the Ford Thunderbird , and

2436-456: The driveshaft , near the differential , while most brakes today are located inside the wheels. An inboard location reduces the unsprung weight and eliminates a source of heat transfer to the tires. Historically, brake discs were manufactured worldwide with a concentration in Europe and America. Between 1989 and 2005, the manufacturing of brake discs migrated predominantly to China. In 1963,

2520-415: The 1890s. The first caliper-type automobile disc brake was patented by Frederick William Lanchester in his Birmingham factory in 1902 and used successfully on Lanchester cars . However, the limited choice of metals in this period meant he used copper as the braking medium acting on the disc. The poor state of the roads at this time, no more than dusty, rough tracks, meant that the copper wore quickly, making

2604-551: The 1962 TV175. This was followed by the GT200 in 1964. MV Agusta was the second manufacturer to offer a front disc brake motorcycle to the public on a small scale in 1965, on their expensive 600 touring motorcycle featuring cable-operated mechanical actuation. In 1969, Honda introduced the more affordable CB750 , which had a single hydraulically actuated front disc brake (and a rear drum brake), and which sold in huge numbers. Unlike cars, disc brakes that are located within

Facel Vega Excellence - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-573: The 277 engine with the bigger-bore 301 for the 1957 model year, Facel did the same and called the resulting model the FV3B . In addition to the new 253 hp (186 kW) engine, the FV3B also received new, slightly longer and wider bodywork on cars built after the first batch of twelve cars had been completed in March 1957. For 1958, the engine grew to 5.8 litres ( FV4 ) and 325 hp (239 kW), although

2772-769: The Chrysler B-series "Wedge" big-block engines. All Chrysler powered Facel-Vegas could be had with either the Pont-à-Mousson built four-speed manual, or the Chrysler built Torqueflite three-speed automatic. Whereas the American automatic transmission was optional for the Facel-Vegas, the French manual gearbox conversely became optionally available in the Chrysler 300 high-performance model. While

2856-400: The Chrysler built Torqueflite three-speed automatic. Contemporary road tests showed that they performed equally with either gearbox. Arguably the most powerful Excellences to ever hit the roads, these were genuine 140 mph cars. Reportedly, only eleven 'EX'-series cars were built, seven of which are known to have survived. The Hemi-engined Excellences can be recognized by their inclusion of

2940-623: The EX2's first Paris Motor Show , in October 1961, was ₣72,500 new francs for an Excellence with an automatic transmission. The same money could at that time buy more than twelve Renault Dauphines . Of these "EX2" models, only eight were completed, when production ended. Following the proposition of a New York based conglomerate wanting to revive the Packard brand in 1959, Facel-Vega boss Jean Daninos entered into negotiations with Studebaker-Packard Corporation president Harold Churchill . The idea

3024-671: The Excellence cost around as much as four Citroën DS saloons, and was an alternative to the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud , Mercedes-Benz 600 and Lagonda Rapide . The price could still be boosted higher by ordering optional equipment, which gradually became available over the car's production run, such as power steering, power brakes, electric windows, and air conditioning also sourced from Chrysler along with wire-spoke wheels from Kelsey-Hays. The Excellence features some styling elements typically found on American cars of

3108-539: The French Venturi sports car manufacturer in the mid-1990s for example, but need to reach a very high operating temperature before becoming truly effective and so are not well suited to road use. The extreme heat generated in these systems is visible during night racing, especially on shorter tracks. It is not uncommon to see the brake discs glowing red during use. Ceramic discs are used in some high-performance cars and heavy vehicles. The first development of

3192-554: The HK500 in 1962, after 489 had been built. One was a specially made convertible. Total FV/HK production was 842, or 846 depending on the source. Albert Camus died when the Vega he was travelling in hit a tree. Disc brakes A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a rotor to create friction . There are two basic types of brake pad friction mechanisms: abrasive friction and adherent friction. This action slows

3276-613: The November 1985 edition of Collectible Automobile Magazine , automotive historian Richard Langworth stated his opinion that "The Excellence is a large vehicle...better suited as a car of State rather than a daily driver". Powered by contemporary Chrysler V8 engines like other Facel-Vega cars, the initial Excellences were fitted with Hemi engines, which Chrysler discontinued for the 1958 model year. Facel-Vega continued to use those engines until their stocks were used up in late 1958. From then on, V8 powered Facel-Vega models were powered by

3360-605: The Paris Show Car of 1956 was fitted with a 331 CID (5.4 litre) unit, the initial batch of production Excellences was equipped with the 392 CID (6.4 litre) version of the Chrysler Hemi V8 . This engine, producing 360 hp (268 kW), was shared, among others, with the Facel Vega HK500 and Chrysler's own Imperial . Facels could either be ordered with the Pont-à-Mousson built four-speed manual, or

3444-410: The United States, objected to the plan. Mercedes never got used to the idea of selling their brand next to a working man's car like a Studebaker, but also did not want floor competition for its luxury models. Churchill realized that he could never get the same cash stream from Facel-Vega that he did from Daimler-Benz, and the whole project was abandoned. The Facel-Vega Excellence-cum-Packard did make it to

Facel Vega Excellence - Misplaced Pages Continue

3528-480: The brake gets hot when stopping. This is acceptable as there is sufficient time for cooling, where the maximum braking energy is very predictable. Should the braking energy exceed the maximum, for example during an emergency occurring during take-off, aircraft wheels can be fitted with a fusible plug to prevent the tire bursting. This is a milestone test in aircraft development. For automotive use, disc brake discs are commonly made of grey iron . The SAE maintains

3612-634: The brake is hot. In racing and high-performance road cars, other disc materials have been employed. Reinforced carbon discs and pads inspired by aircraft braking systems such as those used on Concorde were introduced in Formula One by Brabham in conjunction with Dunlop in 1976. Carbon–carbon braking is now used in most top-level motorsport worldwide, reducing unsprung weight , giving better frictional performance and improved structural properties at high temperatures, compared to cast iron. Carbon brakes have occasionally been applied to road cars, by

3696-402: The caliper behind the slider (to reduce the angular momentum of the fork assembly). Rear disc calipers may be mounted above (e.g. BMW R1100S ) or below (e.g. Yamaha TRX850 ) the swinging arm: a low mount provides for a marginally lower center of gravity, while an upper siting keeps the caliper cleaner and better-protected from road obstacles. One problem with motorcycle disc brakes is that when

3780-507: The cars, and Crosley-based specials, popular in SCCA H-Production and H-modified racing in the 1950s. The Crosley disc was a Goodyear -Hawley design, a modern caliper "spot" type with a modern disc, derived from a design from aircraft applications. Chrysler developed a unique braking system, offered from 1949 until 1953. Instead of the disc with caliper squeezing on it, this system used twin expanding discs that rubbed against

3864-527: The casting process). The weight and power of the vehicle determine the need for ventilated discs. The "ventilated" disc design helps to dissipate the generated heat and is commonly used on the more heavily loaded front discs. Discs for motorcycles, bicycles, and many cars often have holes or slots cut through the disc. This is done for better heat dissipation , to aid surface-water dispersal, to reduce noise, to reduce mass, or purely for non-functional aesthetics. Slotted discs have shallow channels machined into

3948-402: The cost is not prohibitive. They are also found in industrial applications where the ceramic disc's lightweight and low-maintenance properties justify the cost. Composite brakes can withstand temperatures that would damage steel discs. Porsche 's Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB) are siliconized carbon fiber, with high-temperature capability, a 50% weight reduction over iron discs (hence reducing

4032-612: The credit being given to the brakes' superior performance over rivals equipped with drum brakes . Mass production began with the 1949–1950 inclusion in all Crosley production, with sustained mass production starting in 1955 Citroën DS . Disc brakes offer better stopping performance than drum brakes because the disc is more readily cooled. Consequently, discs are less prone to the brake fade caused when brake components overheat. Disc brakes also recover more quickly from immersion (wet brakes are less effective than dry ones). Most drum brake designs have at least one leading shoe, which gives

4116-420: The disc to aid in removing dust and gas. Slotting is preferred in most racing environments to remove gas and water and deglaze brake pads. Some discs are both drilled and slotted. Slotted discs are generally not used on standard vehicles because they quickly wear down brake pads; however, removing of material is beneficial to race vehicles since it keeps the pads soft and avoids vitrification of their surfaces. On

4200-638: The disc, master cylinder , and caliper, which contain at least one cylinder and two brake pads on both sides of the rotating disc. The development of disc-type brakes began in England in the 1890s. In 1902, the Lanchester Motor Company designed brakes that looked and operated similarly to a modern disc-brake system even though the disc was thin and a cable activated the brake pad. Other designs were not practical or widely available in cars for another 60 years. Successful application began in airplanes before World War II. The German Tiger tank

4284-405: The disc. Friction causes the disc and attached wheel to slow or stop. The brake disc is the rotating part of a wheel's disc brake assembly, against which the brake pads are applied. The material is typically gray iron , a form of cast iron . The design of the discs varies. Some are solid, but others are hollowed out with fins or vanes joining the disc's two contact surfaces (usually included in

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4368-706: The driver was not familiar with the car's handling and weight, and that contributed to the severity of the crash. For 1959, the Facel Vega HK500 was introduced. Essentially, it was just a renamed, upgraded FVS. Equipped at first with the 335 hp (246 kW) 5.8-litre V8 from the FVS, the HK500 soon received a 360 hp (265 kW) 6.3 litre Chrysler V8, giving it a top speed of 147 mph (237 km/h). It could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.5 seconds. Initially, disc brakes were optional, becoming standard in April, 1960. The Facel Vega II replaced

4452-596: The earlier 4.5 and a 4.9 ( FV3/FV3B ) were still listed as available and the three models were built alongside each other. In total, 357 FVs and FVSs were built. A four-door version, called the Excellence , was added to the lineup in 1958, but was even more rarefied than the two-door version. French publisher Michel Gallimard was driving his FV2 on January 4, 1960, when he lost control and crashed outside of Villeblevin . The crash killed him and one of his passengers, Nobel laureate Albert Camus . Some have speculated that

4536-489: The era, such as tailfins, the wraparound windshield, and the "hardtop" roof without B-pillars. The overall design, however, is regarded as distinctively European, with its stacked quad-headlights and rakishly low profile. Its low beltline and comparatively high greenhouse predicted the automotive architecture that became mainstream in the late Fifties, and lasted throughout the Sixties. The Facel-Vega Excellence also incorporates

4620-487: The first European cars sold to the public to have disc brakes, fitted to all four wheels. The Jaguar C-Type racing car won the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans , the only vehicle in the race to use disc brakes, developed in the UK by Dunlop , and the first car at Le Mans ever to average over 100 mph. "Rivals' large drum brakes could match discs' ultimate stopping, but not their formidable staying power." Before this, in 1950,

4704-528: The first prototype had been completed in October 1953. Originally the model name was "Vega", but they gradually became "Facel Vega" with "FV" followed by a number indicating the iteration. By 1956, the cars were called FVS (for Facel Vega Sport) in the United States. The 1954 versions of the Facel were fitted with a DeSoto Firedome (Chrysler) 4.5 litre Hemi V8 engine, paired with either Chrysler's two-speed Powerflite automatic transmission or, at extra cost,

4788-599: The friction surface, the balls would be forced up the holes forcing the discs further apart and augmenting the braking energy. This made for lighter braking pressure than with calipers, avoided brake fade, promoted cooler running, and provided one-third more friction surface than standard Chrysler twelve-inch drums. Today's owners consider the Ausco-Lambert very reliable and powerful, but admit its grabbiness and sensitivity. In 1953, 50 aluminum-bodied Austin-Healey 100S (Sebring) models, built primarily for racing, were

4872-605: The inner surface of a cast-iron brake drum, which doubled as the brake housing. The discs spread apart to create friction against the inner drum surface through the action of standard wheel cylinders . Because of the expense, the brakes were only standard on the Chrysler Crown and the Town and Country Newport in 1950. They were optional, however, on other Chryslers, priced around $ 400, at a time when an entire Crosley Hot Shot retailed for $ 935. This four-wheel disc brake system

4956-448: The lesser fins. The Excellence received its only significant facelift in 1961. It now came with a bigger 383 CID (6.3 litre) engine, rated at 390 hp (291 kW). However, no significant gain in performance could be noted in contemporary road tests, and the initial Hemi-powered cars remain the fastest Excellences ever built. The 'EX2' lost its wraparound windshield and the tailfins were downsized. The design did not, however, receive

5040-681: The machine on which Tom Sheard rode to victory in the 1923 Senior TT . Successful application began on railroad streamliner passenger trains, airplanes, and tanks before and during World War II. In the US, the Budd Company introduced disc brakes on the General Pershing Zephyr for the Burlington Railroad in 1938. By the early 1950s, disc brakes were regularly applied to new passenger rolling stock. In Britain,

5124-515: The modern ceramic brake was made by British engineers for TGV applications in 1988. The objective was to reduce weight, and the number of brakes per axle, as well as provide stable friction from high speeds and all temperatures. The result was a carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic process which is now used in various forms for automotive, railway, and aircraft brake applications. Due to the high heat tolerance and mechanical strength of ceramic composite discs, they are often used on exotic vehicles where

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5208-399: The more common form in most passenger vehicles. However, many (lightweight vehicles) use drum brakes on the rear wheels to keep costs and weight down as well as to simplify the provisions for a parking brake . This can be a reasonable compromise because the front brakes perform most of the braking effort. Many early implementations for automobiles located the brakes on the inboard side of

5292-497: The motorcycle during braking. Modern sport bikes typically have twin large front discs, with a much smaller single rear disc. Bikes that are particularly fast or heavy may have vented discs. Early disc brakes (such as on the early Honda Fours and the Norton Commando ) sited the calipers on top of the disc, ahead of the fork slider. Although this gave the brake pads better cooling, it is now almost universal practice to site

5376-417: The outside diameter of the disc. The disc is spun. The difference between the minimum and maximum value on the dial is called lateral run-out. Typical hub/disc assembly run-out specifications for passenger vehicles are around 0.002 in (0.0508  mm ). Runout can be caused either by deformation of the disc itself or by runout in the underlying wheel hub face or by contamination between the disc surface and

5460-436: The piston seal has a square cross-section, also known as a square-cut seal. As the piston moves in and out, the seal drags and stretches on the piston, causing the seal to twist. The seal distorts approximately 1/10 of a millimeter. The piston is allowed to move out freely, but the slight amount of drag caused by the seal stops the piston from fully retracting to its previous position when the brakes are released, and so takes up

5544-457: The planning stage, but contrary to popular belief, not a single actual prototype was built. However, a number of Excellences were imported to the US by private owners. Facel Vega FV The Facel Vega FV/FVS is a car produced by French automaker Facel from 1954 until 1959. It continued to be built until 1962 as the HK500 . The Facel "Vega" was launched at the 1954 Paris Salon, although

5628-442: The road, drilled or slotted discs still have a positive effect in wet conditions because the holes or slots prevent a film of water from building up between the disc and the pads. Two-piece discs are when the center mounting part of the disc is manufactured separately from the outer friction ring. The central section used for fitment is often called the bell or hat because of its shape. It is commonly manufactured from an alloy such as

5712-412: The rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle , either to reduce its rotational speed or to hold it stationary. The energy of motion is converted into heat , which must be dissipated to the environment. Hydraulically actuated disc brakes are the most commonly used mechanical device for slowing motor vehicles. The principles of a disc brake apply to almost any rotating shaft. The components include

5796-469: The same nominal horsepower output of 360 hp (268 kW) as the Hemi it replaced. From late 1959 onwards, the Excellence was offered with optional power disc brakes up front. The 1958 to 1961 Excellences were the most numerous of the bunch with 137 examples being built. Late models incorporate nearly all of the advancements generally considered to be part of the EX2 update, including the non-panoramic windshield, chassis and steering upgrades, as well as

5880-419: The slack caused by the wear of the brake pads, eliminating the need for return springs. In some rear disc calipers, the parking brake activates a mechanism inside the caliper that performs some of the same functions. Discs are usually damaged in one of four ways: scarring, cracking, warping, or excessive rusting. Service shops will sometimes respond to any disc problem by changing out the discs entirely, This

5964-531: The system impractical. In 1921, the Douglas motorcycle company introduced a form of disc brake on the front wheel of their overhead-valve sports models. Patented by the British Motorcycle & Cycle-Car Research Association, Douglas described the device as a "novel wedge brake" working on a "beveled hub flange". A Bowden cable operated the brake. Front and rear brakes of this type were fitted to

6048-399: The thickness variation. Machining on-car with the proper equipment can also eliminate lateral run-out due to hub-face non-perpendicularity. Incorrect fitting can distort (warp) discs. The disc's retaining bolts (or the wheel/lug nuts, if the disc is sandwiched in place by the wheel) must be tightened progressively and evenly. The use of air tools to fasten lug nuts can be bad practice unless

6132-479: The underlying hub mounting surface. Determining the root cause of the indicator displacement (lateral runout) requires the disassembly of the disc from the hub. Disc face runout due to hub face runout or contamination will typically have a period of 1 minimum and 1 maximum per revolution of the brake disc. Discs can be machined to eliminate thickness variation and lateral run-out. Machining can be done in situ (on-car) or off-car (bench lathe). Both methods will eliminate

6216-451: The vehicle's central hydraulic system. This model went on to sell 1.5 million units over 20 years with the same brake setup. Despite early experiments in 1902, from British Lanchester Motor Company , and in 1949 from Americans Chrysler and Crosley , the costly, trouble-prone technology was not ready for mass production. Attempts were soon withdrawn. The Jensen 541 , with four-wheel disc brakes, followed in 1956. Triumph exhibited

6300-488: The vehicle's unsprung weight), a significant reduction in dust generation, substantially extended maintenance intervals, and enhanced durability in corrosive environments. Found on some of their more expensive models, it is also an optional brake for all street Porsches at added expense. They can be recognized by the bright yellow paintwork on the aluminum six-piston calipers. The discs are internally vented much like cast-iron ones, and cross-drilled. In automotive applications,

6384-474: The wheel, bike disc brakes are in the airstream and have optimum cooling. Although cast iron discs have a porous surface that provides superior braking performance, such discs rust in the rain and become unsightly. Accordingly, motorcycle discs are usually stainless steel, drilled, slotted, or wavy to disperse rainwater. Modern motorcycle discs tend to have a floating design whereby the disc "floats" on bobbins and can move slightly, allowing better disc centering with

6468-465: The wheels, which helps ensure a free flow of cooling air. Some modern passenger rail cars, such as the Amfleet II cars , use inboard disc brakes. This reduces wear from debris and provides protection from rain and snow, which would make the discs slippery and unreliable. However, there is still plenty of cooling for reliable operation. Some airplanes have the brake mounted with very little cooling, and

6552-400: Was built and exhibited at the company's stand at the 1955 Paris Salon , while two FV2B convertibles were built in 1956 for customers in the United States. One FV3 convertible was also finished, in spite of Daninos' reluctance to offer the bodystyle due to its lack of rigidity. The FVS was also offered with a three-speed automatic, and front disc brakes were available from 1958. At some point

6636-417: Was built by Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company (Ausco) of St. Joseph, Michigan , under patents of inventor H.L. Lambert, and was first tested on a 1939 Plymouth . Chrysler discs were "self-energizing," in that some of the braking energy itself contributed to the braking effort. This was accomplished by small balls set into oval holes leading to the braking surface. When the disc made initial contact with

6720-467: Was fitted with discs in 1942. After the war, technological progress began in 1949, with caliper-type four-wheel disc brakes on the Crosley line and a Chrysler non-caliper type. In the 1950s, there was a demonstration of superiority at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which required braking from high speeds several times per lap. The Jaguar racing team won, using disc brake-equipped cars, with much of

6804-431: Was somewhat American and perhaps a bit heavy , with rudimentary tail fins. The body was an expanded version of the earlier, Facel-bodied Simca/Ford Comète . An abundance of stainless steel brightwork was fitted. The dashboard was aircraft-inspired, and one of the first to feature a middle console over the gearbox. On FV and FV1 models, the dashboard was entirely upholstered in leather. The rear seats folded flat to provide

6888-473: Was the Michele Pirro incident at Mugello, Italy 1 June 2018. At least one manufacturer has developed a system to counter the pads being forced away. A modern development, particularly on inverted ("upside down", or "USD") forks is the radially mounted caliper. Although these are fashionable, there is no evidence that they improve braking performance or add to the fork's stiffness. (Lacking the option of

6972-484: Was to badge-engineer the Excellence with Packard nameplates and the trademark Packard "Ox-Yoke" grille, using Packard's powerful and new for 1956 V8 engines, and market it through the more "exclusive" Studebaker-Packard dealers in North America. However, Daimler-Benz , which already had a marketing partnership with Studebaker-Packard, using Studebaker's dealership network to sell its Mercedes-Benz brand of cars in

7056-419: Was unveiled later in 1956, and on the 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental . In the interior, the car features leather seats, a faux burled walnut dashboard with full instrumentation provided by Jaeger-LeCoultre , and a make up kit located in the back of the centre armrest, consisting of a chrome-handled brush and comb, and two perfume bottles, the latter albeit being supplied empty by the factory. In an article for

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