Filed under: Sports/GTs, Tech, Supercars, Aston Martin
Aston Martin DB9 to get Caparo brakes
Click pics for high-res gallery of the Aston Martin DB9 and Caparo T1
It's been a while since we heard anything about the Caparo T1 supercar. One of the most extreme applications of the "F1 for the road" theme, the project originally began independently under the name Freestream before being acquired by component manufacturer Caparo as a rolling demonstration of the latest in automotive technology. Part of that tech is now finding its way into another British sportscar: the Aston Martin DB9.
Reports now indicate that Aston Martin will be upgrading the brakes on its V12 sportscar with units developed for the Caparo T1. In the place of the 355mm front discs currently employed will be a set of 378mm discs, gripped by four-pot calipers each machined from a solid piece of cast aluminum. The new stoppers, developed by the 18-man team at Caparo AP Braking, promise to deliver a 24% reduction in fade while reducing peak temperatures by 18% in return for 30% less pedal force required. Interesting that Aston Martin decided to outsource a new set of brakes for the DB9 instead of adopting the carbon-ceramic units from the top-of-the-line DBS.
We've added some new high-resolution images of the DB9 and Caparo T1 to the galleries below. Check 'em out:
Gallery: Aston Martin DB9
Gallery: Caparo T1
[Source: PistonHeads]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pennfootball71 10:07AM (7/30/2008)
The cost of ceramic brakes is way more then they are paying for the steal binders. Keep in mind steal brakes still have a better more linear feel and work just as good if not better at everyday driving. It's an Aston Martin a Grand touring car! Keep in mind NASCAR uses steal brakes as well as some Indy cars!
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Alex 10:19AM (7/30/2008)
Hit the nail on the head. Ceramics, while cool, are not very effective in normal driving conditions. Cermaic brakes perform best under constsnt high load. They give no positive feel when they are cold.
Unless you are planning to turn your Aston Martin into a track waepon, you will not enjoy the added cost of ceramics.
wonkydonkydotnet 12:34PM (7/30/2008)
@pennfootball71
well if the cost is too high, you could just Steal some. :P
Ivan 1:11PM (7/30/2008)
Is there a lot of braking in NASCAR?
I'm not hating, I genuinely don't know.
pmiddle5 11:51PM (7/30/2008)
on some tracks yes. Them cars are quite heavy as well
Jason 11:00AM (7/30/2008)
At first glance I thought the title read 'Aston Martin DB9 to get Camaro brakes'
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Dustin 11:16AM (7/30/2008)
I think they're AP Racing brakes.
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ALEXDB9 11:45AM (7/30/2008)
Sweeeeeeet. By the way that 09 DB9 is pure sex, I love what they did with the side mirrors.
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azzo45 12:30PM (7/30/2008)
I absolutely LOVE both of these cars!
PunkInDrublic 12:24PM (7/30/2008)
I like how they took the brakes off of a 1,200lb track weapon and put it on a 3,800lb+ GT.
Would like to see the differences in stopping distance of both.
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r33 12:25PM (7/30/2008)
brakes from caparo?
does it means it will catch fire next time jason plato drives one?????
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wonkydonkydotnet 12:28PM (7/30/2008)
Will the DB9 now attempt to Kill the people who drive it?
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Yellowperil 5:01PM (7/31/2008)
What the blog does not make at all clear is that Caparo AP Braking are only offering this as a so-called brakes upgrade kit to existing DB9 owners. They are not OE brakes suppliers except to London Taxi!.
Can't imagine why any DB9 owner would want to ditch those beautiful Brembo brakes in favour of a no-name brand. Certainly the 3 year vehicle warranty would be voided and what might it do for the stability control system? All very questionable IMHO.
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