Recently, ceramic bearings have revolutionized certain classes of motorcycle drag racing. My question is: do F1 cars use ceramic bearings, or have they actually moved on to something even better?
On a related thought, if you had a choice of either:
(1) increasing engine HP
(2) decreasing rolling resistance
(3) better braking ability
(4) better aero package
which of the above would you prefer and why?
Do F1 cars use ceramic bearings?
Started by
GSXRTURBO1
, Jun 01 2001 14:14
2 replies to this topic
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#2
GSXRTURBO1
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Posted 01 June 2001 - 14:15
The ceramic bearings being wheel and tranmission bearings, not engine bearings
#3
Ben
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Posted 01 June 2001 - 17:08
There is a very interesting article in the latest edition of Auto Technology (www.auto-technology.com) about the use of ceramic hybrid bearings by CEROBEAR in F1 wheel hubs and gearboxes. These have steel races and silicon nitride balls with PEEK cages.
Goldline also supply similar bearings to F1. There wheel bearings are angular contact ball bearings with a 25 degree contact angle.
The main reason for the use of these bearings is cited as better thermal performance. The wheel bearings need 1.5 grams of grease for the life of a wheel bearing, and a simple oil mist is adequate for the gearbox bearings.
They also use them for clutch release bearings.
As to which would I prefer from the list given? Answer: Gains in all of them but more importantly all of them working together. Synergies as desmo would say.
Ben
Goldline also supply similar bearings to F1. There wheel bearings are angular contact ball bearings with a 25 degree contact angle.
The main reason for the use of these bearings is cited as better thermal performance. The wheel bearings need 1.5 grams of grease for the life of a wheel bearing, and a simple oil mist is adequate for the gearbox bearings.
They also use them for clutch release bearings.
As to which would I prefer from the list given? Answer: Gains in all of them but more importantly all of them working together. Synergies as desmo would say.
Ben
