Ferrari F2007 variable brake bias

[checkered]

SpeedTV features an

article on the secrets of the F2007 (tyre gas etc.), essentially an abridged version of Racecar Engineering's feature. The bit about the variable brake bias (and how McLaren's system might be different in mechanics but similar in effect to Ferrari's construction) is also highly interesting. [url=http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/41398/?page=2]SPEEDtv.com EXCLUSIVE: F1, Racecar Engineering--Secrets of the F2007[/url]


Image linked from SpeedTV's website

[zac510]

So simple.......

[mx_tifoso]

Interesting article Checkered.

Earlier this month I took a few days off from the internet (and thus F1T) because I was working so much, and I knew I was going to miss some new and interesting information, such as this one. Luckily I was looking around searching for another thread and stumbled upon this.

[DaveKillens]

A very neat solution in dynamic brake balancing. I wonder about the "springs", to me elsatomeric springs seem the best canditates.
But according to my interpretation to the regulations, they may be illegal. But there's a grey area, and once again, Ferrari are allowed.

[ginsu]

Let me get this straight.

So the rear brake has delayed engagment due to the clearance while the load is being transferred and the front brake is working as normal. (So you get maximum front braking, and sacrifice the rear to prevent lockup?)

Then, as you push harder the spring engages which takes force away from the rear brake, still the front engaging as normal. (There is still some reaction force holding the spring, so the rear should be getting some force, albeit not very much)

Then, as you push at the extreme, the spring coils bind and you get maximum rear braking force. (Is this at the turn in for a corner, after the car is going much slower?)

Thus, the wedge affects the clearance and the preload on the spring?

I agree with Dave as I would not want the 'push back' of unloading a conventional coil spring, elastomers are noted to provide a degree of damping, hopefully controlling the stored energy.

Looks like a nice mechanical solution to a proportioning valve, although I thought they worked by reducing front brake line pressure, not by reducing the rear, but F1 has so much load transfer that the rear is probably really easy to lockup.