Is there any difference in where the caliper is positioned on a car? I had always assumed that the fronts are closer to the front of the car, and the rears are towards the rear ON ALL CARS. My car has this setup, and my reasoning for this was for better cooling. However, I started noticing other cars and have seen the front calipers toward the rear, and the rears toward the front. As well as both toward the rear. Does this have any real advantage or am I just totally bored and posting about stupid ****?

 

The position of the calipers does make a difference. If you look on FWD cars they are usually at the front of the Rotor on the fronts and the rear of the rotor on the rear. The ooposite for RWD cars. It will control the braking pitch of the car.
Also FWD cars concentrate the full braking power towards the front wheels, hence the size of the front caliper versus the rear caliper. On RWD cars you do not want all the weight to pitch off the rear wheels and loose contact.

 

Ive heard that the caliper location has nothing to do with braking and everything to do with avalible space. cant remember where but thats my .02

 

I know I didn't have any background to base my aswer on, but it sounded good didn't it?

Caliper size makes a difference along with piston size and amount of pistons.

 

Maybe it has something to do with where the tie rods are mounted.
The cars that I have noticed that have the caliper in the front have the tire rods in the back and vice versa... so maybe it's a space issue?

my $.02

 

Wow tie rods on the front? I'd think that would put the steering rack ahead of the engine. Well I guess front-mid-engined cars (RX-7, Corvette, S2000) probably do that.

 

What about AWD cars? I saw a grand cherokee with the front toward the rear, and the rears toward the front. I also so a hundai with both toward the rear. Explain that! Your a riot Morgan, a real riot.

 

DING DING DING, your the winner! Nice try morgan, please play again..