Brembo has unveiled a new light brake disc concept, which is up to 15 per cent lighter than conventional discs. Brembo has partnered with Daimler AG to develop the lightweight brake disc.

Brembo  has always been committed to advanced research in new technological solutions which respect the environment and aim to meet the increasingly stringent market requirements in terms of weight.

The company has  developed a disc that combines two different materials: cast iron and steel. In fact, the most important advantage is drawn from the steel housing which is only 2.5 mm thick, as opposed to the 7.5 – 9 mm on a traditional cast iron housing, with the same performance.This significant reduction in weight produces a disc which, depending on the geometry of the housing, is 10-15% lighter: the larger the housing, the greater the weight reduction.

This new light brake disc concept achieves an important result in the search for weight reduction, allowing the vehicle to significantly reduce fuel consumption and consequently have a lower environmental impact: one of the musts in car component design.

The main contributory factor in Brembo’s development was the design of the housing’s gearing which was obtained by using precision sprocket technology found in the mechanisms in famous Swiss watches. This particular housing form also enabled us to successfully pass the severe mechanical resistance tests on the torque bench that Daimler required.

The new light weight brake disc will be the first Brembo product to be made all over the world since it will be produced simultaneously in its European, Chinese and American plants. This global production is made possible by the characteristics of the steel required to make the housing. These characteristics are the same everywhere.

For Brembo this new concept will represent a trend-setting innovation in terms of the materials used: steel combined with cast iron – aimed for a future Mercedes-Benz model range.