Presented by Centric Parts and its StopTech performance and racing division

February 2, 2010

Glossary: Conduction

You hear it all the time, but what does it mean?

CONDUCTION:
Conduction is the transfer of heat by physical contact. For example, some of the heat generated by the automobile braking system is transferred to the caliper pistons and thence to the brake fluid by conduction. Some of it is also transferred to the hub, upright (knuckle) bearings, and wheels in the same way.


Two-piece or floating discs reduce conduction to the hub, and other parts because of the intervening hat. Conduction is also the strategy used in all designs to move the heat from the disc pad interface to the vanes and in some designs to provide the initial heat sink for the energy generated at the start of a braking cycle.

Conduction is one of only three heat transfer mechanisms. Convection and radiation are the other two.