12 Rules Your Brakes Live By:

[TBM Brakes]

We'll be adding to this content every few days so check back for the rest of the rules. Or check our Facebook page for the full list. It's pretty interesting stuff!


1. Pad area (volume) has no effect on braking torque; Pad area (volume) effects life and heat management.

2. Caliper clamping force is a function of piston area (on one side of the rotor) times line pressure.

3. The hotter a brake pad gets, the faster it will wear.

[TBM Brakes]

4. Deflection anywhere in the brake system will result in a proportional reduction in clamping force.

5. Piston count has nothing to do with clamping force, piston area does.

6. Caliper deflection that exceeds piston o-ring retraction (~.020) will result in brake drag.

[TBM Brakes]

7. Given the same design, aluminum calipers will always deflect more than steel, cast iron or steel reinforced calipers.

8. If your pads are tapered, your calipers are deflecting.

9. All brake pads perform best in a temperature range, too cold is just as bad as too hot.