High-Performance Brake Systems: Design, Selection, and Installation (S-A Design) (Paperback)

~ James Walker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

5.0 Mustang & Super Fords, February 2007

"If you are looking to upgrade your car's braking system, CarTech Books has a new tome dedicated to the subject - High-Performance Brake Systems."

Super Chevy, April 2007

"Designed for both the avid weekend wrencher as well as trackrats, Brake Systems takes you all the way from the simple theory of energy conversion (which is how a brake system works), to the inner workings of the triple-master-cylinder, 6-pot caliper racing brake systems." 

Grassroots Motorsports, June 2007
 
"Belongs on any gearhead's shelf."  

Product Description

Brake systems are one of the most important yet least understood vehicle systems. Brake systems can be intimidating, and they aren’t the first thing the average horsepower junkie chooses to upgrade. But there’s no reason to wait until you have a problem to learn how your brakes work. High-Performance Brake Systems: Design, Selection, and Installation gives you the knowledge to upgrade your brakes the right way the first time. Author James Walker, Jr. doesn’t just tell you what to do--he uses over 315 photos and plain English to help you understand how and why your brake system works, what each of the components does, and how to intelligently upgrade your brakes for better performance. There are chapters showing you how to choose and install the most effective rotors, calipers, pads, and tires for your sports car, muscle car, race car, and street rod. You’ll even find special sidebars detailing how each upgrade will affect your ABS system. Whether you are a commuter, a casual enthusiast, a weekend warrior, or a professional racer, this book is perfect for you.

 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: S-A Design (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932494324
• ISBN-13: 978-1932494327
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If your car has brakes, then you should read this book, February 25, 2008

By	David S. Wallens (Ormond Beach, Fla.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We have known and worked with James for a long time, and glad to see all of that brake knowledge put down in one place. There is a ton of mis-information out there on the Interweb, and here's a place to hear the truth from a real, live brake engineer. This book does a nice job of separating fact from friction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brake Systems Demystified! Perfect Level of Detail!, March 2, 2008

By	AngryCorvair - See all my reviews

I've spent time between the covers of just about every brake systems book out there, and I believe Walker's book strikes an ideal balance between the objective "math and science" explanations and the subjective "seat of the pants" examples (like Jack the Energy Guy, on Page 12). For the hands-on reader, the last four chapters are dedicated to hardware upgrades on various types of vehicles, with sidebars on impacts to system gain and system balance. While there is no "Design an Appropriate Brake System From Scratch" chapter, the information required to complete such an exercise is found throughout the logically-ordered chapters of this book.

I'm glad to have this book in my collection!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brake Systems, February 21, 2008

By	Stude man (Lake City, Fl) - See all my reviews

Some good info. Would like to see more practical application info on MC selection and whole car brake system design and updating examples and why each unit was selected. Book still falls short of really practical info that you would use to upgrade or design a system from scratch. Surprised that shocks VS brake performance was not mentioned.