| Brake bias is not a term that is used about stock cars | | | | toward the rear makes the car looser while braking |
| very often. It is a technical term that is used on racing | | | | and entering a turn. A tighter car can cause understeer |
| cars and sometimes street vehicles when they are | | | | which means that the front end of the car does not |
| used for track days. A track day is when an owner | | | | turn in very easy. A looser car can cause |
| takes their car to a race track for some hot laps. If this | | | | oversteering, where the front turns in too fast and the |
| is something you will be doing very often, then this | | | | rear end swings out too far. |
| information will be helpful. | | | | When a car slows down there is a weight transfer |
| As you step on the brakes the front brakes and the | | | | towards the front of the vehicle and the front tires |
| rear brakes are not applied with the same power. In | | | | load up, while the rear tires lose some weight on them. |
| some cases, depending upon what you are doing and | | | | This is the reason front brakes typically are larger and |
| how well, you might decide to change the factory | | | | have more initial brake bias set than the rear brakes, |
| setting. But do so with a great deal of caution. The | | | | since they are used more. However if you applied too |
| term brake bias means the balance of how much | | | | much bias to the front brakes, they will lock up. This |
| braking the front and rear brakes contribute to slowing | | | | means you will can't effectively slow the car as the |
| down a car. Brake bias is often written as a | | | | rear brakes are helping very little in slowing down the |
| percentage or a ratio such as 65/35. This ratio would | | | | car. On the other hand if you have too much rear |
| mean that the front brakes receive 65% of the | | | | brake, the rear tires can lock up as the weight |
| available brake power and 35% is sent the rear. | | | | transfers forward and makes the rear end of the car |
| In almost all racing cars and sometimes in modified | | | | lighter. |
| production cars you can adjust this ratio. The control | | | | In general it is always recommended to start with your |
| for this adjustment may be in the driving compartment | | | | brake adjustments so that it ranges between 70/30 |
| and sometimes it is outside near the brakes. Adjusting | | | | and 80/20, as your initial trial setting. You can adjust |
| the brake bias can be important to a winning race car | | | | your brake bias within this range and see which |
| or a faster track car. | | | | particular setting allows you to complete a lap faster. |
| Depending upon the race track layout you sometimes | | | | Make small adjustments to start. |
| want the adjustment to make the front brakes work | | | | Normal passenger cars will not come equipped with a |
| harder and on a different track with other conditions | | | | brake bias adjustment capability, however it can be |
| you need the adjustment to favor the rear brakes. | | | | added. But if it is done, it should be done by a brake |
| When adjusting the brake bias you change the car's | | | | professional who knows what they are doing. Brake |
| handling characteristics when braking. For example, | | | | bias changes to your settings should only be utilized |
| how does the car handle when you enter a corner? | | | | while on a race track. There were very excellent |
| Adjusting the brake bias towards the front brakes | | | | reasons why your car manufacturer choose your |
| makes the car feel tighter and more stable while | | | | particular car's initial settings. Modify this brake ratio at |
| braking and you begin to enter a turn. Adjusting it | | | | you own peril. |