Disc Brakes

A steel brake disc rotates with the front wheel in the airflow. The so-called disc brake caliper straddles it. When the brake pedal is pressed, the pistons press the brake pads against the discs, and braking takes place.

To achieve higher forces acting on the brake pad, the Audi 80 with a 6-cylinder engine is equipped with two brake cylinders per caliper.

The airflow during driving constantly cools the disc brakes. Additional cooling of the front disc brakes is provided on models with engines of 85 kW and above, and also on models with a 66 kW engine combined with an automatic transmission. The brake disc has large recesses that draw in air, thereby improving cooling.

The front disc brakes of the Audi 80 and, where fitted, the rear disc brakes use a so-called floating caliper design. The brake caliper looks like a clenched fist. The brake cylinder with piston presses the inner pad against the brake disc, causing the caliper housing to slide along the guide pins and press the outer pad against the other side of the brake disc.

Disc Brakes in Wet Weather
During continuous rain, the exposed brake discs become heavily wet, and as a result braking response is delayed by a fraction of a second. Moisture between the brake discs and brake pads must first evaporate. In winter, when salt is used heavily, this effect is even stronger, because salt on the pads and discs must first be worn off during braking.