Ooooohhhh...Dave...have you ceramic coated this....

[SwampNut]

 

@DaveK Loser.  You haven't, have you?

[TOXXIC]

So ghey it hurts. LOL.

 

After doing the rotors make sure to coat everything in Armour All, especially the face of the brake pads. 

[SwampNut]

27 minutes ago, TOXXIC said:

especially the face of the brake pads. 

 

Fucking amateur.  You ceramic the rotor, turn it, and distribute the ceramic onto the pads, reapply and turn again.

 

Also, those are HUGE calipers, with six pots.

 

[TOXXIC]

41 minutes ago, SwampNut said:

Also, those are HUGE calipers, with six pots.

Is that a caliper in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?  😂

[jon haney]

2 hours ago, SwampNut said:

 

Fucking amateur.  You ceramic the rotor, turn it, and distribute the ceramic onto the pads, reapply and turn again.

 

Also, those are HUGE calipers, with six pots.

 

I would expect nothing less for an almost 7K lb. vehicle.

[blackhawkxx]

The rotor is really shinny, much more than anything I have ever owned.

[SwampNut]

20 minutes ago, jon haney said:

I would expect nothing less for an almost 7K lb. vehicle.

 

I do wonder how it compares to any other 3/4-ish-ton truck (it's not a real 3/4, but more than a 1/2).  It is my understanding, from reliable sources, that brake size has to account for stopping the engine at full throttle.  Meaning if it gets stuck trying to go, you have to be able to stop with the brakes.  I have not researched this.  If so, well, 900-some foot-pounds would require those brakes.

 

[jon haney]

17 minutes ago, SwampNut said:

 

I do wonder how it compares to any other 3/4-ish-ton truck (it's not a real 3/4, but more than a 1/2).  It is my understanding, from reliable sources, that brake size has to account for stopping the engine at full throttle.  Meaning if it gets stuck trying to go, you have to be able to stop with the brakes.  I have not researched this.  If so, well, 900-some foot-pounds would require those brakes.

 

There's a test I wouldn't mind seeing.

[superhawk996]

The electronicals, if you trust that shit, would stop the motors from fighting the brakes.  But I think that theory is debunked by the fact that the rear calipers are WAY smaller and the rear motors are more powerful.

 

Another theory I've read/heard is that EVs have bigger brakes because the aerodynamics are so focused on efficiency that they have little cooling ducted to the brakes, which also appears to be bullshit since most vehicles have no ducting to cool the brakes.

 

Bringing back drum brakes for EVs has been discussed a lot because of their 0 drag characteristic, but it's hard to make the braking performance meet today's standards so it probably won't happen.

 

Carlos needs to ask the Rivian engineers about this to hopefully get the real answer on why they have big brakes.

[SwampNut]

8 hours ago, superhawk996 said:

which also appears to be bullshit since most vehicles have no ducting to cool the brakes.

 

And I have what appear to be potential brake ducts.  They are air ducts of some sort near there.

 

Search says more bullshit:

 

For weight.  My truck weighs the same as most trucks in the same capacity range, and I *think* these brakes are much bigger.

 

Maybe:  

• Performance Demands: Many EVs have instant torque and great acceleration, which means brakes must be designed to safely handle brisk driving and emergency stops without overheating or fading. Stiff, large calipers and big rotors are required for sudden deceleration at high speeds.

Full retard:

• Limitations of Regenerative Braking: While EVs can use their electric motors for regenerative braking (which converts some of the kinetic energy back into battery power), this system isn’t always available or sufficient. If the battery is full or in emergency stops, only traditional friction brakes will be able to slow or stop the vehicle, so these need to be large and effective.

• Reliability and Safety: Motor-based regenerative braking cannot always provide the abrupt, reliable stopping power needed in all scenarios (such as wet conditions or a total battery failure). Friction brakes serve as an essential backup for full stopping force at all times, requiring robust designs.

 

And then...

 

Safety and Reliability Requirements

Mechanical brakes serve as a fail-safe redundancy, mandated by regulations for all scenarios, including system failures. Since they're used less frequently, EVs often incorporate specialized components like high-carbon rotors for better heat management, pads with higher friction coefficients to avoid issues like rust or glazing from inactivity, and brake fluid with elevated boiling points to handle electrical system demands. This ensures consistent performance when needed most.

[superhawk996]

15 hours ago, SwampNut said:

Performance Demands: Many EVs have instant torque and great acceleration, which means brakes must be designed to safely handle brisk driving and emergency stops without overheating or fading. Stiff, large calipers and big rotors are required for sudden deceleration at high speeds.

This is the most plausible and somewhat what I've been guessing, basically that the brakes are upgraded with power upgrades.  I just don't know if there's some legal requirement for it or if manufacturers are going the cautious route by putting bigger brakes in cars that are capable of working the brakes harder.

 

15 hours ago, SwampNut said:

and brake fluid with elevated boiling points to handle electrical system demands.

If the brake fluid and electricals ever meet, I doubt that the boiling point will have much impact on the damage.

[02XXCA]

On 10/3/2025 at 11:50 AM, SwampNut said:

 

I do wonder how it compares to any other 3/4-ish-ton truck (it's not a real 3/4, but more than a 1/2).  It is my understanding, from reliable sources, that brake size has to account for stopping the engine at full throttle.  Meaning if it gets stuck trying to go, you have to be able to stop with the brakes.  I have not researched this.  If so, well, 900-some foot-pounds would require those brakes.

 

Such a waste of brake components when 99.999 percent of the time the motors are slowing you down.  At least you will never have to replace the pads.

Edited November 6, 2025 by 02XXCA

[DaveK]

I completely missed this thread.  I love that color...how does it look with the new wrap?

[SwampNut]

It looks great.  We spent a lot of time using my 3D printed parts to hold next to the wrap samples.  The badges really pull it together.  I need to edit and post the post-badge video.  The yellow background on them really looks great with the calipers and wrap.

 

Preview.  I don't have any pics in the sun to show them with the other colors in the wrap.

 

 

 

[DaveK]

That second photo needs to be used by Rivian in marketing.  Wow, how beautiful. 

 

I really like that tiny model. 

[SwampNut]

3 hours ago, DaveK said:

I really like that tiny model. 

 

Tiny model?

 

So...are you gonna pull your wheels and ceramic the calipers?

[TOXXIC]

1 hour ago, SwampNut said:

 

Tiny model?

 

So...are you gonna pull your wheels and ceramic the calipers?

Guessing brake dust isn’t an issue, because as Chris mentioned 99% of deceleration does not involve the brake pads or rotors. So they should stay clean and pretty for a long time.

[SwampNut]

38 minutes ago, TOXXIC said:

Guessing brake dust isn’t an issue, because as Chris mentioned 99% of deceleration does not involve the brake pads or rotors. So they should stay clean and pretty for a long time.

 

No, just road grime, same shit all over the wheels and underside.

 

 

 

 

OOOOOOOHHHHHH

 

 

 

 

SHiiiiiiiittttt....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Dave.  I also just detailed and ceramic coated the.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fender wells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also confirmed that indeed, brake pad thickness is basically like new.

[DaveK]

2 hours ago, SwampNut said:

 

Tiny model?

 

So...are you gonna pull your wheels and ceramic the calipers?

 

R2

 

I just might.  The yellow looks so damn good !!!!!

[SwampNut]

Just now, DaveK said:

The yellow looks so damn good !!!!!

 

It made the color deeper and richer.  I can't say yet whether it keeps dirt off, but the color got better.  I think it will work with any color or even black/gray/white.  

 

I don't understand SUVs, like not even a little bit.  Worst of everything to me.  The R2 is definitely in demand and I wouldn't take a free one.

 

[blackhawkxx]

1 hour ago, SwampNut said:

I don't understand SUVs, like not even a little bit.

I went from being a long time truck owner to an SUV and really liked it.   Folding down both rear rows of seats gives plenty of room to carry most things and don't get me started on the tiny beds many so called trucks have these days.

[Zero Knievel]

1 hour ago, blackhawkxx said:

I went from being a long time truck owner to an SUV and really liked it.   Folding down both rear rows of seats gives plenty of room to carry most things and don't get me started on the tiny beds many so called trucks have these days.

 

Preach it.  A small to mid-size truck used to have the option of a long bed.  Now your only option is a full size truck if you want that.

[02XXCA]

3 hours ago, DaveK said:

 

R2

 

I just might.  The yellow looks so damn good !!!!!

That is what I was holding out before I bought the Y, got tired of waiting. Maybe get one and replace my Venza Hybrid when they come out next year.

Edited November 7, 2025 by 02XXCA

[SwampNut]

1 hour ago, blackhawkxx said:

I went from being a long time truck owner to an SUV and really liked it.   Folding down both rear rows of seats gives plenty of room to carry most things and don't get me started on the tiny beds many so called trucks have these days.

 

I went from the Jeep SUVs to a truck, and glad to be out of the SUVs.  Too many limitations.  Basically it's just a car, but with more problems.  Then the sedan, which didn't have the SUV shittiness, but the limitations of a car.  So back to a truck.

 

[superhawk996]

2 hours ago, blackhawkxx said:

I went from being a long time truck owner to an SUV and really liked it.   Folding down both rear rows of seats gives plenty of room to carry most things and don't get me started on the tiny beds many so called trucks have these days.

For me it started with an Explorer, then I upgraded them twice.  I kept the 5.0 Explorer longer than most cars I've had, then along came the Excursion.  Stupid big, but it does almost everything quite well.