Autoblog Finds a Reason to Respect the Lincoln Concept C

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

No really. (Remember: we don’t diss Autoblog any more.) Scribe Sam “Is There a Draft Out There” Abuelsamid has noticed a new technology on the otherwise Lincoln WTF– I mean Concept C that’s way cool. I think. “Take a close look at the brake caliper in the photo above. Typically, the brake rotor is attached to the wheel hub and the caliper grips the disk from the out edge. On the Concept C, the braking surface is attached to the inside edge of the wheel rim with caliper wrapping around the inside edge of the rotor… An internal caliper mount has the advantage of allowing a larger effective radius for where the braking force is applied. Since torque is defined as a force applied at a distance from a pivot point, the greater the distance, the greater the braking force. Such a setup allows more brake force with a smaller caliper, which in turn can provide better brake feel since the fluid displacement is smaller. The downside is that changing wheels becomes a much more complicated matter since the brake hardware is mounted on the wheel.” Man, I’ve got to get out more.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Nayrb5 Nayrb5 on Jan 13, 2009
    Lincoln should be euthanized if this baleen grille makes it to ANY more models. Thank you P71_CrownVic for reminding me of the word for what the new Lincoln grills remind me of. I've been trying to figure out the resemblance for a while now...
  • Argentla Argentla on Jan 13, 2009

    As a random aside, Pontiac used to offer aluminum wheels with integral drums. They were made by Kelsey-Hayes, and they an unusual eight-lug pattern. The wheel had cast-in cooling fins. They looked neat, and they offered better cooling than conventional drums. Unfortunately, they were heavy, and they were expensive (around $120 in the early sixties, the equivalent of almost $900 today), so they weren't often ordered.

  • TheRealAutoGuy TheRealAutoGuy on Jan 13, 2009

    It looks interesting, especially when combined with run-flats. I contend there has to be a better solution to improved braking other than $$$ ceramics.

  • Niky Niky on Jan 14, 2009

    Apart from the problem of changing wheels (runflats *cough* ), this seems like a very interesting idea. A lighter disc with better heat dispersion and more stopping force sounds like a good thing... Imagine, having brakes as big as an M5's without the necessity of 19" rims. No more of that additional unsprung weight from the hub carrier of the disc. The disc can be held onto the rim with numerous small bolts that don't really need to be as heavy or as strong. And the rim is already pretty strong at the spokes, so it doesn't need to be reinforced for this beyond adding the bolt holes. The flywheel effect of having more mass close to the edge should be more than counteracted by the much lower mass, overall. Probably be a very nifty idea for sports cars, as a way of getting more brakes while keeping unsprung weight down. Without a caliper sticking out from the disc, You can probably run the same size disc inside out with a 16" or 17" wheel as you can with a 19" wheel. The smaller wheels would mean less unsprung weight and better acceleration. Practicality be damned... I want to try this!

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