Re: Discs & Drums

Agreed, they certainly would do under normal conditions, but does the front disc design allow waste heat to be dumped overboard much more efficiently than the rear drums?

In second gear, using the footbrake, with lots of weight, yeah we were having to use the brakes a lot.

inconsiderate

Funny thing I regualarly go down a very long steep descent (The Halley Brae) with some very nasty tightening radius curves and the brakes are usually cooler at the bottom than they were at the top -- thats what gears are for.

To a point, however gears are for going and brakes are for slowing. I'll use a low gear for a hill or similar, but these days I use my brakes for slowing rather than deliberately slowing down.

Plus, I have never, ever ever used any brake components in any of my cars lives. :) I've had my own car now for nine years, four of 'em . . .

But probably much better at high speed ...

I think they're just not as efficient period!

Nah, even with weight in the back, going downhill and braking the fronts will be doing between 60-80% of the work (unless you have a strange suspension set up) so both ends were probably about as warm as each other ...

Certainly . . .

This is true, but of course the Ka has a big bias towards the front, so it's not an issue.

Splendid; this is what I'm wanting to read. ;)

Cool. I drove up to Edinburgh the other day (M1, then A1/A1(M) to the bitter end), and was just thinking what a great idea a motoring holiday would be. One day I'd seriously love to investigate driving to Australia. Ok, so it'd take a while, and require absolutely s*it loads of planning, but it's something I'd seriously love to do.

PEter

How about a drive to the US....

However there are thoughts about a John O'groats - lands end dawn-dusk raid in the future....

In your amphibicar I presume ...

Yeah, though it's strange; the rear discs on my car are huge, and yet I know that a lot of the street racers replace them with drums to save

It's not impossible - I reckon we should try it as the ultimate 4x4 challenge - anyone know if there's a shipping company that operates across from Russia to Alaska?

I reckon London to Orlando should only take about 30 days. Need a convoy, two drivers in each vehicle, long range tanks and fuel heaters, look at it as a seriously daft "what's the best 4x4" (or "where did we leave the X5") expedition.

I'd be up for that. I managed Edinburgh to Bracknell in 5 1/2 hours last night, along with the worst economy I've ever experienced from the Fiesta :-(

It was either go quickly(!) or be on the road for another 60-90 minutes and risk driving tired.

But for driving at that sort of speed, the 2.5TDI-140 Audi A6 would actually be as good, if not slightly better.

Hmm...let me think, 75bhp 1.8TDi Fiesta, 140bhp 2.5TDi Audi A6.........hmmm......tough one, that!

Peter

in

Have you seen Kermit's rear wheels? Big chunky rusty brake drums poking out behind alloys. :(

I'd imagine that it's possibly no cheaper to make drums these days than it is to make discs, and if we take a certain range (like the Focus, say), the sportier models have rear disc brakes as part of the package . . . and if Ford are buying ten million rear disc brake sets rather than five million disc sets and five million drum sets, they can squeeze for a higher discount because of volume.

We've a couple of Kas with a rear disc conversion, and whilst a disc looks better behind an alloy wheel, I cannot justify it on brake fade or brake performance grounds. Only on cosmetics, and for the money, it's not worth it.

At least the Ka's spoiler helps prevent water from getting on the rear screen! ;)

It's more of a challenge in a Ka.

Well idea should be for two drivers per car, I want to take my ovlov - hopefully brother will have his license back, or I might co-drive a Ka.

Remember - it's not a race....

Autocar got a Merc S320TDI to do it on one tank.

/Star Wars mode/

He's fast enough for you old man. /looks at Kermit/ This is the Ka that did the York to Forth Road Bridge run in under three hours.

But the loser gets to lick the winner's Ka klean with their tongue!

Last time I drove home it took about 11 hours (+ the ferry and a 20 mile drive on the island!!). Watford to Orkney.

Set off at 4 in the morning and arrived in John O Groats around 1500.

Graham

Absolutely, but even on a cruise at 70 I doubt there'd be much difference economy wise between my Fiesta and the Audi. I normally average around

Anyway, if I was to do this now, I'd definitely take the Carlton over the Fiesta, no comparison.

Peter