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I just stopped by the Santana Row store for a quick visit. I noticed the black Model S there has two disc brakes per rotor.
I think the Roadster's brakes aren't quite up to the task of spirited driving. With a weight of 4000lbs, Model S needs good brakes, but I wonder why they didn't beef up the fronts instead?
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Discoducky
Ask what the second calipers are for on the rear brakes. Pretty sure they are the parking brake, but it would be good to know for sure as I don't want to be replacing two sets of shoes for the rear disc's.Douglas3
I asked a Tesla engineer about that at the factory tour. The second caliper is indeed for the parking brake. It's electrically actuated and automatically engages when you put the car in Park.
Yes, I heard the same thing. Most cars I know have a cable that can actuate the main calipers for "emergency brake", but for some reason the S has a small slave caliper for that.
I can't recall other cars except the McLaren F1 that actually have a second set of calipers.
I wonder if by making the parking brake electronically actuated we'll loose the function of emergency braking. What's the alternative if the braking system suddenly shuts down?
Yeah, I'm Douglas3 on the Tesla forums. The main calipers are hydraulic, and the second, smaller brake shoe is actuated by a fairly beefy looking electric actuator.Originally Posted by brianman
It seems very unlikely that you would lose both the hydraulic systems and the electronic systems simultaneously.
Pictures, videos, and news from the Model S (pre-)event Oct 1, 2011
Interesting factoid
There are two calipers on the rear wheels. At upper right is the electrically activated parking brake, which engages automatically when you put the car in park. The larger hydraulic brake caliper is on the left.
Is that a brake dust shield that's stamped with the letter T?
The letters T|E|S|L|A go around that plate as I recall (not just a T).
I think they call it a spash guard to keep road debris from striking the brake rotor. So not so much to keep brake dust in, but rather to keep contaminants out.
All these components are bought from part suppliers. Maybe all existing brake calipers with built in "parking brake feature" aren't strong enough for S? ICE cars have bigger brakes in front, S is an exception for having really big brakes in the rear.Yes, I heard the same thing. Most cars I know have a cable that can actuate the main calipers for "emergency brake", but for some reason the S has a small slave caliper for that.
I believe in Tesla as a concept, a brand, and a suite of products. No matter who conceived, started, runs, or maintains, I hope it ultimately prevails and lasts.
-- TEG
It is common for cars with 4-wheel disc brakes to use small cable actuated drum brakes in the rear for the parking brake, instead of using the main calipers.
Also, it it interesting that the Model S uses fixed calipers, instead of the cheaper, and much more common, floating calipers. This is going to be a GREAT driver's car.
GSP
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