Brakes on differentials?

[Linville33]

OK so I have been into lifted trucks for awhile but never have I owned one. This question maybe stupid but why do they put disk brakes on the diffs? Like this. (This truck is not mine)

You must be registered for see images attach

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Parking brake? Hellifino.

 

[Linville33]

I have no idea. I see them on trucks with outrageous amounts of lift and big tires. I don't know if its because the stock brakes aren't enough and the need another point or what.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

 

[Irishman999]

They are axles off of a big military truck, like the duece and a half. Thats just how they are designed, the pinion actually points up and the ring lays flat if I remember right.

The reason you seem them on the big huge mud bogger trucks is their strong as is and available off of a surplus of decommissioned military equipment. I have pictures of acres of duece and a half trucks parked butts not nutts in lots outside of Tuscon.

 

[Linville33]

So is that their front brake or just another point of contact of braking?

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

 

[oopsman_09]

rockwell axles

 

[bucket]

So is that their front brake or just another point of contact of braking?

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

That's the brakes. The single brake per axle works because they are tied to the pinion speed, so there's a lot of mechanical advantage.

 

[Linville33]

OK then. Thanks guys for the insight. I really dont know much about trucks above a 3/4 ton

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

 

[smurph20]

Just as your torque is multiplied by the differential so is the braking power. So if you can slow the pinion down you multiply the braking power through the gearing of the axle which in a 2.5 Rockwell out of a deuce and a half is 6.72

 

[HotRodPC]

OK then. Thanks guys for the insight. I really dont know much about trucks above a 3/4 ton

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

Those are most likely 5 Ton Rockwells, off a Deuce. By Deuce I don't mean a pile of ****.

 

[Linville33]

I'm familiar with the nicknames of duece and duece and a half.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

 

[BowTieJockey]

Those discs brakes are also a lot lighter than the stock huge brakes that are offers own on those Rockwell axles

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk

 

[sean1960]

Those axles are referred to as top loader axles. The pinion brakes that you see work very efficiently If you have a locking differentials. If you have open differentials and one of your tires comes off the ground that axle doesn't help you stop. That set up is used off road. Although there have been some similar factory setups used in conjunction with normal brakes. Usually a park brake at the back of the transmission or transfer case.

 

[roving4s]

Rockwells can take some serious abuse. Check out "Busted Knuckle Films", Tim Cameron, Rock Bouncers etc. Mudding, rock crawling, trail riding is one thing, these guys with built buggies they assault everything.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rock bouncers 2013&sm=1