What's the difference between bicycle disc brakes and disc brakes designed for karts?

[kartnoob101]

Question in title, I guess.

Kart-specific disk brake components are so expensive compared to most bicycle disc brake kits, and I've been wondering if the price difference is simply due to supply and demand of a common bike brake versus a special kart brake, or if they're actually significantly different in design and stopping power.

 

[OzFab]

The first thing to consider is the weight of a bicycle vs the weight of a go kart; putting bicycle brakes on a go kart would be like putting Toyota corolla brakes on a Mack truck...

 

[kartnoob101]

Sure, but why? What is the physical difference in the brakes? Thicker discs? Bigger pads? Going only from pictures online, they look pretty similar to me, I'm trying to understand the differences

 

[itsid]

All of that..

a bicycle brake is generally a LOT smaller than a kart brake,
not only the caliper itself is maybe a third of that size, but everything else is scaled down,
brake pads, the disc.. everything.

And as Tony said, it's because that's often enough for a considerably smaller bicycle with a much lower weight (and less wheel rpm)
I guess a bike brake could stop a light funkart maybe once.. twice at ebst until the pads need to be replaced;
and ONLY if the disc hasn't been bent with the stress or the caliper cracked because of the flimsy nature of small cast alloys

The best advice I could give you is go into a bicycle store and let them hand you a good quality brake caliper.
Take it in your hand and judge by it's weight if you would want your kart to be stopped by that

Now, while you're on the road, go to a scootershop and do the same;
ask for a standard disc brake caliper for whatever model they have.
take that in your hand (that is much closer to a kart brake, some kart brakes are actually twice the size of small scooter brakes)
you will notice the difference and should be able to make your call

'sid

 

[kartnoob101]

Thanks sid, the size difference isn't something I was able to notice by looking at pictures online- in fact, the kart brakes actually seemed smaller to me!

I'm just desperately trying to find a cheap solution to stop my kart, (obviously bike brakes are not what I'm looking for if I value my health), but I'm getting pretty discouraged! Everything is so expensive when I have to double the figures for each side of my differential >.<

 

[OzFab]

A Chinese ATV brake setup (master cylinder, caliper, hose & disc) can be found online from around $40; IMO, that's your best option...

 

[kartnoob101]

Fabroman, hate to sound like one of those guys who refuses to google stuff on his own, but would you mind linking to an example?

I've come across a few cylinder+caliper assemblys on ebay but not full kits like what you've mentioned. I'm not sure of exactly what to search or if eBay is the best place.

 

[OzFab]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Footbr...uad-/251688508090?hash=item3a99cddaba&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Hydrau...0cc-/251819080600?hash=item3aa1963b98&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STON-Rear-B...rts-/171574042254?hash=item27f29c1e8e&vxp=mtr

 

[kartnoob101]

Thanks x10, this looks to be a very promising option!

 

[landuse]

Fabroman, hate to sound like one of those guys who refuses to google stuff on his own, but would you mind linking to an example?

I've come across a few cylinder+caliper assemblys on ebay but not full kits like what you've mentioned. I'm not sure of exactly what to search or if eBay is the best place.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Footbr...uad-/251688508090?hash=item3a99cddaba&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Hydrau...0cc-/251819080600?hash=item3aa1963b98&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STON-Rear-B...rts-/171574042254?hash=item27f29c1e8e&vxp=mtr

That was easy....

 

[OzFab]

Indeed...