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Brake setup advice

Started by RevTurk, February 05, 2012, 06:26:45 PM

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RevTurk

I'm setting up the brakes on the kart similar to a car and the front brakes are completely new concept to me.

At the moment I'm using between 65-70% brakes. I have the front brake slightly stronger than the rear, usually only a few percent.

I just want to make one thing clear, when I press the brake pedal does it brake all four wheels and when I press the front brakes it only activates the front brakes? Or, when I press the brake pedal does it only activate the rear brakes and the front brake lever only activates the front brakes?

If it works just like car brakes should I have more pressure on the front brakes with less on the rear brakes? Or should they be the same?

Should the brake pressure be as high as it can be without locking the wheels or should it just be a case of whatever works for you? I just notice everyone else seems to be using less brake pressure than me but my times are in the mid 45s on Lonato which seems to be pretty decent so I don't seem to be suffering to much if I'm wrong.

I am having awful trouble with using the front brakes though, how do you use them? Do you just tap them during normal braking with the pedal? That's what seems to work for me but I have to have the front brake come on very slowly (nearly at 100 in settings). As I said front brakes are just a new concept for me, I either don't use them or only lightly tap them. If I was using a much lower brake pressure would they work better?

laraarsa

When you brake with the paddle only the back brakes. When with handle only the front brakes get activated.

jarowww

February 05, 2012, 07:14:52 PM #2 Last Edit: February 05, 2012, 07:17:10 PM by jarowww
Only in KS1 brake pedal work like in car (stopping front and rear wheels). In KC1 and FS250 paddle near steering wheel operates only front brakes. You should map this under button (i use shift paddle).
I use a lot less pressure on the front (30 - 40)%. This is because front wheels are smaller than back wheels also compared to car there is a lot less weight movement under braking, lastly front wheels are separated (back wheels are connected) so it's easier to lock inside wheel.
Usually when driving i use front and rear to brake only in straight line and rear brakes when turning into corner. I do this because it's quite hard to control brakes with button when turning and kart usually ends up with locked wheel. So my setting for front brakes are very fast lock and release and pressure low enough to avoid locking in straight line.

EVO

Also with karts you should have more rear brake to help rotate the kart into the corner becasue karts have a solid rear axle and no differential.  Also lack of suspension means you have to be more aggressive transfering weight.  Imagine a super stiff race car. IT does not roll into the turns it reponds and transfers weight almost immediatly
To download all my dashes, airboxes, tracks, and more
click here or see my personal website

RevTurk

Thanks that clears up a lot, I wasn't using the brakes correctly at all.

Nitrox

For KS1 I use 60-70%. 60 if it is a shorter track and I use the break to kick the rear into the corner. Up to 70 on wider tracks.

johnpike

you should have the brakes biased towards the front in KZ because most of the weight transfers to the front under braking. at least that's what it is in real life..

RevTurk

Quote from: Nitrox on February 06, 2012, 12:24:35 AM
For KS1 I use 60-70%. 60 if it is a shorter track and I use the break to kick the rear into the corner. Up to 70 on wider tracks.
Can the rear brake work almost like a handbrake to slide back end of the kart?

EVO

To download all my dashes, airboxes, tracks, and more
click here or see my personal website