Experiment: smooth wheel discs tested A-B-A - 4.6% mpg improvement @ 65 mph

[justme1969]

Tested and approved for most except the stands on brakes driver.
You can recognize that person by the carbon build up over thier front wheels.
I bought them for my old mustang and did more high speed canyon runs in northern California than should be Legal.
hmm. it wasnt!
I migrated them to my old long bed chevy after that because the chrome wheels were rusted from salt water boat launches.
It did not help the rust made it worse but other than one flying away I never had a probblem with them. at all! ! ! ! so stop the doom speak thier cheap, and they look good, and help mpg. Your race car might not be compatible to all that eh?

[NoD~]

One could do grill shutters, like on newer cars, that open up with brake light activation (relay clicks on, actuator opens vents) that pipes to the front brakes only. Quite a bit more work, but would be very effective and keep aerodynamics when you need them. Plus, would help you stop a bit better when the vents open!

[Xist]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

I had smooth discs on my old car. One time to test, I finished a normal commute and checked the brake temperature. I was able to brush, then touch, then grab onto the brake disc. It was barely warm.

Yes, that won't be the case after descending a mountain, but you can use engine braking to help that. If that's a normal situation for your driving, maybe don't cover your wheels. Me? The longest downhill I have around here is about a mile long.

You gotta be smart about your situation. As in most things, It Depends.™

I try to not drive to my parents' house too much, but when I first bought my Forester I made several trips in a row up there and back, up and down mountains, and through canyons. I absolutely hate the idea of burning additional fuel going up a hill, braking down, and then burning more fuel up the next one. I wish that they were perfectly straight, I would feel much better about gaining speed that way, although I would still need to worry about other cars and the highway patrol.

I stay in gear until I have gained too much speed, then I downshift. My car does not do DFCO, I wish that it did, but it only uses as much fuel as when I idle.

I rarely use the brake pedal.

Originally Posted by NoD~

One could do grill shutters, like on newer cars, that open up with brake light activation (relay clicks on, actuator opens vents) that pipes to the front brakes only. Quite a bit more work, but would be very effective and keep aerodynamics when you need them. Plus, would help you stop a bit better when the vents open!

Is that your next project after converting your Neon?

I would be worried about them catching too much air, since people already lose moon disks.

[NoD~]

Originally Posted by Xist

Is that your next project after converting your Neon?

I would be worried about them catching too much air, since people already lose moon disks.

Ha! It'll be a while before I get the Neon done... I got about 3 active projects on it already, plus 2-3 more planned before I could even touch such a project! Active grill shutters, for sure... brake cooling? I've never had a problem (though I don't have my wheels covered yet) and, since the vast majority of my driving requires no major brake usage, I think I'll be ok. Also, my car is around 400lbs less than stock. A car that weighs less won't require as much from its braking system.

Though, this whole thing gave me an idea... when I do make active grill shutters for the front end to the radiator, I'll likely tie in the opening of the shutters to the brake light for ...more stopping power? I figure, if you are going to be slowing down at all, might as well use all you got!

[Xist]

Originally Posted by NoD~

Ha! It'll be a while before I get the Neon done... I got about 3 active projects on it already, plus 2-3 more planned before I could even touch such a project! Active grill shutters, for sure... brake cooling? I've never had a problem (though I don't have my wheels covered yet) and, since the vast majority of my driving requires no major brake usage, I think I'll be ok. Also, my car is around 400lbs less than stock. A car that weighs less won't require as much from its braking system.

Though, this whole thing gave me an idea... when I do make active grill shutters for the front end to the radiator, I'll likely tie in the opening of the shutters to the brake light for ...more stopping power? I figure, if you are going to be slowing down at all, might as well use all you got!

I do not think that spinning your fan would regenerate that much power...

[radioranger]

I just tried someone on here's idea of opening the windows going downhill and it definitely slowed me down a bit, when only the rear window was down on the escort it was incredible the noise level, sounded like a loose wheel LOL, gee better go check em"

[Xist]

Originally Posted by radioranger

I just tried someone on here's idea of opening the windows going downhill and it definitely slowed me down a bit, when only the rear window was down on the escort it was incredible the noise level, sounded like a loose wheel LOL, gee better go check em"

I think that suicide doors would have more of an effect.

Oh well.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Xist

I think that suicide doors would have more of an effect.

Oh well.

Suicide doors, going downhill LOL

[mikeyjd]

Thanks for the test concrete.

[radioranger]

how about suicide doors and a continental kit LOL on a ford escort, OK I'll do it .