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Video Transcript
(NARRATOR)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE WE DROP THE SHACKLES OF DOMESTICITY AND HOP ACROSS THE POND IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE HOW BRAKES ARE MADE ENGLISH STYLE. AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, WE FIND A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXOTIC RIDES TOO.
(TOMMY)>> HEY FOLKS, TODAY YOU'RE CATCHING US IN ROUTE TO THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A REAL SPECIAL TRIP PLANNED.
(MARC)>> AND TOM MADE SURE TO REPRESENT IN THE WAY THAT HE DRESSED. TELL ME, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING SO PATRIOTIC? I HAVEN'T.
(TOM)>> WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THIS TIME WE'RE HOPPING ACROSS THE POND. WE'VE GOT SOME BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF IN, YEP, ENGLAND. ♪ BRITISH THEME MUSIC ♪
[ engine revving ]
(MARC)>> WE'LL HOP OFF THE PLANE AND INTO A CAR TO TAKE A RIDE WEST TOWARD A TOWN BY THE NAME OF NORTHAMPTON, WHERE WE'RE GONNA LEARN HOW ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS FOR BRAKES ARE MADE.
(TOM)>> WELL WE'VE COME TO SEE SOME GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS, AND THAT WOULD BE EBC BRAKES. WE'VE USED THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1983. THEY HAVE FOUR FACILITIES, AND TWO OF THOSE ARE IN THE US.
(MARC)>> AND TWO ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE UK. THIS BEAUTIFUL 180,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS THEIR WORLD HEADQUARTERS. THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING TAKES PLACE. SO LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
(ADAM)>> EBC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY MY FATHER, ANDY FREEMAN. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT MOTORCYCLES. WE MOVED INTO THIS BUILDING IN 2012. IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD FROM WHERE WE WERE. THE BUSINESS HAS MOVED ON A LONG WAY. THE PRODUCTS HAVE MOVED ON A LONG WAY. SO WE'RE STILL A PRIVATELY OWNED, STILL A FAMILY KIND OF ORIENTATED BUSINESS.
(TOMMY)>> THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS. THIS IS JAMES WITH EBC. I SEE YOU HAVE SOME RAW MATERIAL. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
(JAMES)>> SO TOMMY THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS. THIS COMES IN AS ALUMINUM BILLET FROM A LOCAL MANUFACTURER IN NORTHAMPTON, UK, AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROCESS. IT GOES ON THIS MACHINE AND IT'S TURNED DOWN. THIS IS FOR OUR EBC BRAKES' RACING DIVISION HIGH PERFORMANCE FLOATING ROTORS.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT PART IS THIS GONNA BE?
(JAMES)>> THIS IS GONNA BE THE CENTER HUB FOR THOSE ROTORS. NOW THIS IS THE CENTER HUB MACHINE. THIS IS THE ALUMINUM FOR THE CENTER HUB, AND IT GIVES A LIGHT WEIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE OUTER IS MADE FROM A HIGH CARBON CAST IRON ALLOY, AND THEN THE FITTERS GATHER UPSTAIRS. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THAT LATER ON. THE MAIN AIM IS QUALITY THROUGHOUT AND A VERY HIGH PERFORMANCE PRODUCT FOR OUR NEW EBC BRAKES RACING DIVISION.
(TOMMY)>> SO HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS GET DESIGNED?
(JAMES)>> WELL IT'S ALL DESIGNED IN HOUSE TOMMY. WE HAVE A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE NEXT DOOR WHERE THE VEHICLES COME IN AND THEY'RE FULLY FITTED, AND ALL THE DESIGN PROCESS IS UPSTAIRS. LET'S GO AND TAKE A LOOK.
(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHTY!
SO THIS IS WHERE THE DESIGN HAPPENS RIGHT?
(JAMES)>> EXACTLY, SO WE GET THE VEHICLES IN JUST DOWN IN THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE HERE, AND THEN MARK DESIGNS ALL THE HUBS FOR ALL THE VEHICLES COMING IN. THEY'RE DESIGNED ON SITE RIGHT HERE, MACHINED DOWN THERE, TEST FITTED RIGHT THERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT TOMMY THIS IS PART OF OUR NEW EBC BRAKES RACING DIVISION WHERE WE'RE MAKING FLOATING ROTORS, VERY HIGH PERFORMANCE ROTORS, FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES AND EVEN RACE VEHICLES.
(TOMMY)>> SO WHAT'S NEXT IN THE PROCESS?
(JAMES)>> WELL THE ASSEMBLY.
(MARC)>> AND THAT WOULD BE WHERE I AM. ONCE THIS HUB GETS ANODIZED IT COMES HERE. ITS FIRST STOP IS THIS LASER MACHINE WHERE IT GETS MARKINGS FOR IDENTIFICATION, SPECIFICATIONS, AND QUALITY CONTROL.
AS FOR THE OUTER SECTION OF THE ROTORS, THEY COME IN AS CAST IRON DISCS AND THEN THE SLOTS ARE CNC'ED INTO THEM ONE AT A TIME.
WELL WE'RE BACK UP IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA AND WE'VE GOT ADAM HERE WITH ONE OF THE FRICTION RINGS THAT'S COMPLETED. NOW THIS IS PART OF A FLOATING ROTOR. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
(ADAM)>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO WHAT WE MEAN BY FLOATING ROTOR IS THE OUTSIDE DISC IS MADE OF CAST IRON. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A BELL MADE OF ALUMINUM, OR ALUMINIUM, WHAT WE CALL IT, AND THE OUTSIDE CAN EXPAND AND CONTRACT FREELY, OR INDEPENDENTLY, OF THE INSIDE BELL. SO OBVIOUSLY THE PADS ARE RUBBING ON THIS CAST IRON RING. THAT GENERATES A LOT OF HEAT. WHEN THINGS GET HOT IT WANTS TO EXPAND. SO ACTUALLY AT ABOUT 600 DEGREES CENTIGRADE, OR ABOUT 1,200 FAHRENHEIT THIS OUTER RING WANTS TO EXPAND BY ONE POINT SIX MILLIMETERS. OBVIOUSLY IT YOU DON'T LET IT EXPAND LIKE IT WANTS TO THEN WHAT IT TENDS TO DO IS IT TENDS TO CONE THE BRAKE DISC. SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING PARTICULARLY HARD YOU CAN END UP WITH SOME KIND OF VIBRATION OR HEAT DISTORTION. SO REALLY IN A FLOATING ROTOR SYSTEM WHAT WE'VE GOT IS WE'VE GOT A BOBBIN LIKE THIS, WHICH IS MADE OUT OF A SINGLE PIECE OF STAINLESS STEEL, AND THERE'S EIGHT BOBBINS PER DISC IN THIS INSTANCE. WHEN THE BOBBIN ACTUALLY FITS THROUGH THE BACK THERE YOU CAN SEE THE BOBBIN ENGAGES IN THIS SLOT AND ALLOWS UP TO THREE MILL OF FREE MOVEMENT OF THE OUTSIDE RING. ONE OF THE OTHER MAIN BENEFITS TO THIS OF COURSE IS THAT WHEN THE OUTSIDE RING BECOMES WARN YOU CAN UNDO ALL OF THE NUTS, MOVE THE BELL, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY RETAIN THE BELL AND THE BOBBINS AND JUST REPLACE THE OUTER FRICTION RING, WHICH RESULTS IN LOWER LONG TIME RUNNING COSTS.
(TOMMY)>> LAST OF ALL THE CENTER SECTION IS TORQUED DOWN TO THE OUTER DISC AND YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A ROTOR.
(NARRATOR)>> NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN HOW THOSE SHINNY ROTORS ARE MADE IT'S ON TO THE BRAKE PADS. COMING UP WE HEAD TO ANOTHER FACILITY WHERE THEY COOK UP SOME GRADE "A" FRICTION MATERIAL.
(MARC)>> HEY EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK. WE'RE HERE AT THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF EBC BRAKES IN NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, AND THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHERE ALL THE MAGIC HAPPENS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE BRAKE PADS ARE BORN. WHAT STARTS OFF AS ROLLS OF RAW STEEL GOES INTO THIS POWER PRESS AND WHAT COMES OUT IS A BRAKE BACKING PLATE. NOW THIS THING WOULD NORMALLY BE USED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND GLUE THE FRICTION MATERIAL ON HERE. THEY CAN MAKE BACKING PLATES FOR JUST ABOUT ANY APPLICATION YOU CAN THINK OF, BUT INSTEAD OF JUST GLUING THAT FRICTION MATERIAL ON HERE EBC TAKES IT A STEP FURTHER WITH THIS MACHINE. THIS IS CALLED THE NRS MACHINE. WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROVIDES A MECHANICAL ADHESION FRICTION MATERIAL TO STICK TO, WHICH IS DONE AT THEIR BRISTOL FACILITY.
TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN AND HEAD TO BRISTOL, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO HOURS WEST OF NORTHAMPTON.
AND HERE IS WHERE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS TAKES PLACE. THIS IS THE MIXING AREA. THIS IS OF COURSE WHERE ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS GET COMBINED TO FORM WHAT'S GOING TO BECOME THE FRICTION MATERIAL OF THE BRAKE PAD. NOW I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY USE BECAUSE IT'S ALL PROPRIETARY AND IT VARIES FOR APPLICATION, BUT THEY USE THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE, WHICH YOU COULD USE TO MAKE A BULLETPROOF VEST. NOW ONCE ALL OF THAT STUFF IS COMBINED, WELL IT'S GONNA BE SENT DOWN ONE OF THESE CHUTES WHERE IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH A PREFORM AND GET ATTACHED TO THE BACKING PLATE, AND IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE THIS, AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP.
(TOMMY)>> THAT WOULD BE THIS MACHINE, WHICH HEATS AND COMPRESSES THE MATERIAL FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, GIVING IT A MUCH MORE FAMILIAR SHAPE.
THEN THE PADS ARE BAKED OVER SEVERAL HOURS TO ELIMINATE IMPURITIES IN THE MATERIAL. ONCE THAT'S DONE THEY'RE REMOVED, AND THEN PLACED INTO THIS MACHINE. IT GRINDS AND CUTS DOWN THE PADS TO A NICE UNIFORM SHAPE.
(MARC)>> NEXT UP IS POWDER COATING. EBC HAS A VARIETY OF COLORS, WHICH THEY USE TO DESIGNATE WHICH APPLICATION EACH PAD IS FOR. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY THEIR GREEN STUFF PADS, WHICH ARE FOR SPORT APPLICATIONS. AFTER BAKING THEY GET LABELED AND RECEIVE A LAYER OF BREAK IN COMPOUND.
NEXT UP THEY GET ARRANGED ONTO A SERIES OF TRAYS AND MOVED UPSTAIRS.
(TOMMY)>> THIS IS WHERE THEY GET PACKED INTO BOXES AND PREPPED FOR SHIPPING ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE US.
(MARC)>> THEY MAKE A HUGE VARIETY OF BRAKE PADS RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING. EVERYTHING FROM BICYCLE BRAKES TO TRAIN BRAKES, INCLUDING THESE SPECIAL PADS FOR THEIR RACING DIVISION.
(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT WE POP IN ON A CARS AND COFFEE EVENT, BUT THIS ONE IS ALL EXOTICS, AND LATER WE'LL SEE HOW THE FINAL PIECE OF A BRAKE KIT IS MADE, THE CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> HEY FOLKS WE'RE BACK AND WE'VE JUMPED BACK OVER NEAR NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, TO A VILLAGE KNOWN AS SHARNBROOK WHERE WE FOUND OF ALL THINGS AN EXOTICS CARS AND COFFEE. ALL RIGHT, WELL I'M OUT FRONT HERE WATCHING THE CARS ROLL IN. FERRARI F50, I MEAN THAT SAYS IT ALL. WE'VE GOT MORE FERRARIS, LAMBORGHINIS, BENTLEYS. I MEAN YOU NAME IT, SUPER CARS, HYPER CARS, THEY'RE ALL HERE, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ENGLAND HOPEFULLY IF WE'RE LUCKY WE'RE GONNA GET TO SEE SOME AMERICAN MUSCLE AS WELL. LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
(TOMMY)>> THIS ALL TAKES PLACE AT THE SHARNBROOK HOTEL, UNDER THIS GUY'S WATCHFUL EYE.
(CIRO)>> MARK, DAVE, WHY DID THAT MERCEDES JUST DRIVE STRAIGHT THROUGH?
(TOMMY)>> HE'S CIRO CIAMPI, THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL.
(CIRO)>> SO WE'RE BRINGING OUT ALL THE SUPER CARS AND THE HYPER CARS. WE'RE CALLING IT "CARS AND COFFEE SHARNBROOK", BUT WE'RE ADDING IN ANOTHER TWIST. IT'S FOR CHARITY. SO HERE TODAY WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR RAYS OF SUNSHINE CHILDREN'S CHARITY IN LONDON. WE AIMED TO RAISE OVER $10,000 POUND IN A YEAR.
(MARC)>> WELL WE'VE GOT MODIFIED CARS HERE AS WELL, LIKE THIS RWB PORSCHE. IT WAS BUILT IN GERMANY, MODIFIED IN JAPAN, AND DRIVEN RIGHT HERE ON THE STREETS OF THE UK. WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF OTHER MODIFIED VEHICLES AS WELL. TOM?
(TOMMY)>> THE COMMON THREAD WITH THESE CARS IS THAT THEY'RE FAST. THERE'S ANYTHING FROM AN ACR VIPER TO A GTR. LET'S GO CHECK THESE THINGS OUT.
NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU FOLKS, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF LAMBOS OUT IN THE WILD. YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT LAMBORGHINI ALLEY. IT'S PRACTICALLY RAINING THESE THINGS AROUND HERE.
(MARC)>> PERSONALLY I THINK THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULL. I PREFER THE PRANCING PONIES OF THE FERRARIS. NOW WE'VE GOT SILVER ONES AND GRAY ONES, BUT OF COURSE WE'VE GOT YOUR REGULAR RED ONES, WHICH YOU NORMALLY SEE OUT IN THE WILD. THERE'S ACTUALLY CLOSE TO TWO DOZEN OF THEM HERE.
(CHARLIE)>> THEY'RE FAST, THEY LOOK COOL, AND YEAH, THAT.
(TOMMY)>> I MEAN WHAT ELSE CAN YOU GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT? I MEAN IT'S FAST AND IT LOOKS COOL RIGHT?
(CHARLIE)>> YEAH.
(MARC)>> AS A MATTER OF FACT WE DID MANAGE TO FIND SOME MUSCLE CARS GROUPED TOGETHER IN MUSCLE CAR ROW.
(PETER)>> I BOUGHT IT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT WAS A RACE CAR AT THE TIME AND I TURNED IT INTO A ROAD CAR.
(TANIA)>> YOU CAN GET THESE LOVELY SMALL CARS IN ENGLAND. LOVELY, PRETTY LITTLE SMALL CARS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VEIGHT, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT GROWL, ROAR. THERE'S ON EARTH LIKE IT, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
(TOMMY)>> THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT CAR GUYS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. THEY LIKE TO LEND A HAND.
(CIRO)>> WE'VE RAISED $26,200 POUNDS FOR RAYS OF SUNSHINE CHILDREN'S CHARITY. COMPLETELY BLOWN ANY EXPECTATION OUT OF THE WATER. [ engine revving ]
(NARRATOR)>> STICK AROUND, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TRIP TO THE FOUNDRY WHERE MOLTEN ALUMINUM BECOMES CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> HEY WE'RE BACK. SO FAR WE'VE LEARNED HOW EBC IN THE UK MANUFACTURERS TOP QUALITY BRAKE ROTORS AS WELL AS THE PROCESS TO MAKE BRAKE PADS. WELL AS FOR THE CALIPERS, THEIR BODIES ARE CAST JUST DOWN THE STREET HERE ABOUT 10 MILES IN KETTERING WHERE THEY START AS THIS ALUMINUM INGOT HERE. THOSE INGOTS ARE PUT INTO THIS HOT FURNACE HERE WHERE THEY'RE MELTED, AND THAT HOT MOLTEN ALUMINUM COMES OUT OF THERE AND GOES INTO THIS LOW PRESSURE CASTING MACHINE. WHEN IT COMES IT OUT, WELL IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE THIS HERE. THIS IS SIMON AND HE'S WITH TURNER ALUMINUM. SIMON, WHY DO YOU USE THIS PROCESS?
(SIMON)>> WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING AND WE FOUND THAT LOW PRESSURE CASTING PRODUCES A FAR MORE HOMOGENOUS, A SOUNDER, STRONGER, GREATER STRENGTH PRODUCT WITH LESS IMPURITIES IN IT. WE END UP MAKING A REALLY STRONG PRODUCT. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF FORCES WORKING AGAINST YOU. WHEN IT'S BRAKING NEEDS TO BE A VERY STRONG PRODUCT. THIS PROCESS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
(MARC)>> SO A LITTLE BIT OF MACHINING WE'LL HAVE OURSELVES A CALIPER.
(SIMON)>> SUPERB QUALITY PRO CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> WHILE IT MIGHT LOOK OLD SCHOOL THIS PROCESS ISN'T YOUR DADDY'S GRAVITY FED CASTING METHOD. THE MOLTEN ALUMINUM IS PLACED UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT PRESSURE WHICH, LIKE SIMON TOLD US, GIVES YOU A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S STILL TOUGH WORK.
(TOMMY)>> AFTER A FEW MINUTES IN THE MOLD THE MACHINE RAISES UP TO REVEAL THESE NEWLY MINTED CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> SO ADAM, I SUSPECT YOU COULD PROBABLY SHIP SOME OF THIS STUFF OVER SEAS TO BE DONE. WHY IS IT THAT YOU HAVE STUFF LIKE THIS DONE HERE IN YOUR BACK YARD?
(ADAM)>> FOR SURE, WELL FOR ME PERSONALLY BUT ALSO FOR EBC IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN SOURCE COMPONENTRY LOCALLY. THAT GIVES US MORE CONTROL OVER THE PROCESS. WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE QUALITY THAT WE WANT, BUT WE CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE PRODUCTS TO THE PRICE THAT'S COMPETITIVE TO US, AND ALSO WE LIKE SUPPORTING OTHER FAMILY BUSINESSES LIKE OURS. SO FOR ME, AND PREVIOUSLY WE TRY AND SOURCE COMPONENTRY LOCALLY WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.
(MARC)>> AWESOME, LET'S GO BUILD A CALIPER. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
(ADAM)>> LET'S DO IT MAN.
(TOMMY)>> YOU GUYS HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF INVENTORY.
(JAMES)>> WE DO TOMMY. WE HAVE OVER 30,000 SKIDS HERE.
(TOMMY)>> WHERE ALL DO YOU GUYS SHIP TO?
(JAMES)>> WELL FROM THIS WAREHOUSE ALONE WE SHOP TO OVER 120 COUNTRIES, AND THEN WE HAVE LAS VEGAS TO DEAL WITH NORTH AMERICA ALONE.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT ALL DO YOU MAKE PRODUCT FOR?
(JAMES)>> WE MAKE PRODUCT FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE BRAKES, MOTORCYCLE BRAKES, GO KART BRAKES, SCOOTER BRAKES, ATV BRAKES, UTV BRAKES, CAR BRAKES, TRUCK BRAKES, RACING BRAKES, SEMI TRUCK BRAKES, RAILWAY BRAKES. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
(MARC)>> WELL AFTER THE CASTING PROCESS THE CALIPERS GET MACHINED AND THEN THEY GET SENT OFF TO BE ANODIZED, AND THEY COME BACK LOOKING LIKE THIS. ADAM WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
(ADAM)>> SO THEN WE BOLT THE CALIPERS TOGETHER. THEY BECOME A COMPLETE FULL BODY LIKE THIS, AND THEN WE SEND THE CALIPERS OFF TO BE COATED. ONCE THEY'VE BEEN COATED THEY COME BACK, AND THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN FINAL ASSEMBLY. SO THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS INSTALL THE CROSS OVER PIPE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TORQUE THE FITTINGS UP TO SPEC.
AND THE NEXT THING TO INSTALL IS THE BLEED NIPPLE. SO THEN WE'RE GONNA TORQUE THE FITTINGS. SO THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA PUT THE PISTONS IN BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA USE A BIT OF ASSEMBLY PASTE JUST TO EASE THE ASSEMBLY HERE. RUB IT RIGHT THE WAY AROUND.
SO THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA PUT THE ABUTMENT PLATES ON, FASTEN THEM WITH THIS BOLT.
THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT THE BOLT COLLAR IN PLACE AND SLIDE IN THE PAD RETENTION BOLT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'VE FINISHED WITH ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE ONE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT BRAKE CALIPER.
(JAMES)>> WELL WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT. EVERY SINGLE CALIPER WHICH IS MADE HERE IS FULLY TESTED ON THIS MACHINE. TOMMY LET'S HAVE A GO AND TEST IT.
(MARC)>> THIS MACHINE PRESSURIZES THE CALIPER WITH UP TO 1,700 PSI OF AIR TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. IF NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND THE CALIPER PASSES.
(TOMMY)>> WELL JAMES I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR HAVING US AND SHOWING US SOME OF YOUR BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND I'M SURE A LITTLE LATER DOWN THE ROAD WE'RE GONNA HIT YOU UP FOR SOME PRODUCT FOR OUR FUTURE PROJECTS, BUT THERE'S A FEW MORE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE. SO WE NEED TO HIT THE ROAD.
(JAMES)>> YOU'RE WELCOME TOMMY, CHEERS!
(MARC)>> HEY Y'ALL, RECENTLY WE TALKED ABOUT FASTENERS. MAINLY BOLTS AND NUTS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE BOLTS ARE THE MOST COMMON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES, AND SHAPES. YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT LENGTHS, DIFFERENT THREAT PITCH, THEY'RE MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL, AND FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS AS WELL, BUT BOLTS AREN'T THE ONLY TYPE OF FASTENER THAT'S OUT THERE. IN FACT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES RIGHT HERE IN THIS SHOP, AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A FEW AND HOW TO USE THEM. WELL THIS RIGHT HERE IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR RUN OF THE MILL SCREWS. THESE ARE ACTUALLY SHEET METAL SCREWS, AND THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES, AND SHAPES, AND LENGTHS, AND DIFFERENT HEADS, LIKE THIS ONE HAS A SOCKET HEAD. IT EVEN HAS A GROOVE HERE FOR A FLAT HEAD SCREW DRIVER, BUT MOSTLY WHAT WE USE HERE IN THE SHOP WOULD BE THESE PHILLIPS HEAD PAN SCREWS HERE. I'M ACTUALLY GONNA INSTALL THIS ONE. WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THESE IS THE HOLES DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. IN FACT IF YOU CAN GET THE TIP IN THERE, TYPICALLY YOU CAN DRIVE THE WHOLE SCREW IN.
NOW YOU COULD CONSIDER SCREWS AS TEMPORARY OR SEMI PERMANENT, BUT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE PERMANENT YOU COULD GO TO SOMETHING LIKE A RIVET, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL THESE POP RIVETS HERE BUT YOU NEED A SPECIAL TOOL TO INSTALL THEM, WHICH IS THIS, WHAT I CALL A POP RIVET GUN. NOW THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZED TIPS HERE FOR DIFFERENT SIZE RIVETS. JUST NEED TO INSTALL THIS LONG END RIGHT HERE INTO THE GUN. YOU JUST INSERT THE RIVET IN THROUGH THE HOLE AND START PULLING THE HANDLE.
YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THING JUST POPPED OFF OF THERE. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM POP RIVETS, AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS STUD ACTUALLY BROKE OFF OF THE RIVET, AND IT BROKE OFF NICE AND CLEAN THERE. NOW THAT'LL HOLD THOSE TWO PIECES OF METAL TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT TO REMOVE IT YOU'RE HAVE TO DRILL IT OUT. NOW THEY MAKE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SIZES OF RIVETS IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS ALL THE WAY UP TO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BIG OR EVEN BIGGER SOMETIMES, BUT TO INSTALL A BIG RIVET LIKE THAT YOU'D NEED A BIGGER GUN, LIKE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. ANOTHER GOOD WAY TO FASTEN SOMETHING IS WITH A NUT INSERT, WHICH IS THIS THING RIGHT HERE. NOW TO INSTALL IT YOU USE A GUN THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A RIVET GUN. JUST SCREW THE NUT INSERT HERE ONTO THE GUN. NOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL THIS IN THE PIECE OF METAL THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE SCREWING TOO, AND THAT WOULD BE A PIECE OF SHEET METAL LIKE THIS THAT'S NOT THICK ENOUGH, SOMETHING YOU COULD TAP. THEN YOU REMOVE THE GUN. THEN YOU CAN TAKE A BOLT OR A PAN HEAD SCREW LIKE THIS ONE, THREAD IT RIGHT IN. WELL I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR NEXT PROJECT, AND MAYBE YOU CAN PICK UP SOME FASTENERS THAT AREN'T YOU REGULAR RUN OF THE MILL NUTS AND BOLTS.
Show Full Transcript
(TOMMY)>> HEY FOLKS, TODAY YOU'RE CATCHING US IN ROUTE TO THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A REAL SPECIAL TRIP PLANNED.
(MARC)>> AND TOM MADE SURE TO REPRESENT IN THE WAY THAT HE DRESSED. TELL ME, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING SO PATRIOTIC? I HAVEN'T.
(TOM)>> WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THIS TIME WE'RE HOPPING ACROSS THE POND. WE'VE GOT SOME BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF IN, YEP, ENGLAND. ♪ BRITISH THEME MUSIC ♪
[ engine revving ]
(MARC)>> WE'LL HOP OFF THE PLANE AND INTO A CAR TO TAKE A RIDE WEST TOWARD A TOWN BY THE NAME OF NORTHAMPTON, WHERE WE'RE GONNA LEARN HOW ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS FOR BRAKES ARE MADE.
(TOM)>> WELL WE'VE COME TO SEE SOME GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS, AND THAT WOULD BE EBC BRAKES. WE'VE USED THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1983. THEY HAVE FOUR FACILITIES, AND TWO OF THOSE ARE IN THE US.
(MARC)>> AND TWO ARE RIGHT HERE IN THE UK. THIS BEAUTIFUL 180,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS THEIR WORLD HEADQUARTERS. THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING TAKES PLACE. SO LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
(ADAM)>> EBC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1983. IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY MY FATHER, ANDY FREEMAN. HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT MOTORCYCLES. WE MOVED INTO THIS BUILDING IN 2012. IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD FROM WHERE WE WERE. THE BUSINESS HAS MOVED ON A LONG WAY. THE PRODUCTS HAVE MOVED ON A LONG WAY. SO WE'RE STILL A PRIVATELY OWNED, STILL A FAMILY KIND OF ORIENTATED BUSINESS.
(TOMMY)>> THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS. THIS IS JAMES WITH EBC. I SEE YOU HAVE SOME RAW MATERIAL. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
(JAMES)>> SO TOMMY THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS. THIS COMES IN AS ALUMINUM BILLET FROM A LOCAL MANUFACTURER IN NORTHAMPTON, UK, AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROCESS. IT GOES ON THIS MACHINE AND IT'S TURNED DOWN. THIS IS FOR OUR EBC BRAKES' RACING DIVISION HIGH PERFORMANCE FLOATING ROTORS.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT PART IS THIS GONNA BE?
(JAMES)>> THIS IS GONNA BE THE CENTER HUB FOR THOSE ROTORS. NOW THIS IS THE CENTER HUB MACHINE. THIS IS THE ALUMINUM FOR THE CENTER HUB, AND IT GIVES A LIGHT WEIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE OUTER IS MADE FROM A HIGH CARBON CAST IRON ALLOY, AND THEN THE FITTERS GATHER UPSTAIRS. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THAT LATER ON. THE MAIN AIM IS QUALITY THROUGHOUT AND A VERY HIGH PERFORMANCE PRODUCT FOR OUR NEW EBC BRAKES RACING DIVISION.
(TOMMY)>> SO HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS GET DESIGNED?
(JAMES)>> WELL IT'S ALL DESIGNED IN HOUSE TOMMY. WE HAVE A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE NEXT DOOR WHERE THE VEHICLES COME IN AND THEY'RE FULLY FITTED, AND ALL THE DESIGN PROCESS IS UPSTAIRS. LET'S GO AND TAKE A LOOK.
(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHTY!
SO THIS IS WHERE THE DESIGN HAPPENS RIGHT?
(JAMES)>> EXACTLY, SO WE GET THE VEHICLES IN JUST DOWN IN THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE HERE, AND THEN MARK DESIGNS ALL THE HUBS FOR ALL THE VEHICLES COMING IN. THEY'RE DESIGNED ON SITE RIGHT HERE, MACHINED DOWN THERE, TEST FITTED RIGHT THERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT TOMMY THIS IS PART OF OUR NEW EBC BRAKES RACING DIVISION WHERE WE'RE MAKING FLOATING ROTORS, VERY HIGH PERFORMANCE ROTORS, FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES AND EVEN RACE VEHICLES.
(TOMMY)>> SO WHAT'S NEXT IN THE PROCESS?
(JAMES)>> WELL THE ASSEMBLY.
(MARC)>> AND THAT WOULD BE WHERE I AM. ONCE THIS HUB GETS ANODIZED IT COMES HERE. ITS FIRST STOP IS THIS LASER MACHINE WHERE IT GETS MARKINGS FOR IDENTIFICATION, SPECIFICATIONS, AND QUALITY CONTROL.
AS FOR THE OUTER SECTION OF THE ROTORS, THEY COME IN AS CAST IRON DISCS AND THEN THE SLOTS ARE CNC'ED INTO THEM ONE AT A TIME.
WELL WE'RE BACK UP IN THE ASSEMBLY AREA AND WE'VE GOT ADAM HERE WITH ONE OF THE FRICTION RINGS THAT'S COMPLETED. NOW THIS IS PART OF A FLOATING ROTOR. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
(ADAM)>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO WHAT WE MEAN BY FLOATING ROTOR IS THE OUTSIDE DISC IS MADE OF CAST IRON. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A BELL MADE OF ALUMINUM, OR ALUMINIUM, WHAT WE CALL IT, AND THE OUTSIDE CAN EXPAND AND CONTRACT FREELY, OR INDEPENDENTLY, OF THE INSIDE BELL. SO OBVIOUSLY THE PADS ARE RUBBING ON THIS CAST IRON RING. THAT GENERATES A LOT OF HEAT. WHEN THINGS GET HOT IT WANTS TO EXPAND. SO ACTUALLY AT ABOUT 600 DEGREES CENTIGRADE, OR ABOUT 1,200 FAHRENHEIT THIS OUTER RING WANTS TO EXPAND BY ONE POINT SIX MILLIMETERS. OBVIOUSLY IT YOU DON'T LET IT EXPAND LIKE IT WANTS TO THEN WHAT IT TENDS TO DO IS IT TENDS TO CONE THE BRAKE DISC. SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING PARTICULARLY HARD YOU CAN END UP WITH SOME KIND OF VIBRATION OR HEAT DISTORTION. SO REALLY IN A FLOATING ROTOR SYSTEM WHAT WE'VE GOT IS WE'VE GOT A BOBBIN LIKE THIS, WHICH IS MADE OUT OF A SINGLE PIECE OF STAINLESS STEEL, AND THERE'S EIGHT BOBBINS PER DISC IN THIS INSTANCE. WHEN THE BOBBIN ACTUALLY FITS THROUGH THE BACK THERE YOU CAN SEE THE BOBBIN ENGAGES IN THIS SLOT AND ALLOWS UP TO THREE MILL OF FREE MOVEMENT OF THE OUTSIDE RING. ONE OF THE OTHER MAIN BENEFITS TO THIS OF COURSE IS THAT WHEN THE OUTSIDE RING BECOMES WARN YOU CAN UNDO ALL OF THE NUTS, MOVE THE BELL, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY RETAIN THE BELL AND THE BOBBINS AND JUST REPLACE THE OUTER FRICTION RING, WHICH RESULTS IN LOWER LONG TIME RUNNING COSTS.
(TOMMY)>> LAST OF ALL THE CENTER SECTION IS TORQUED DOWN TO THE OUTER DISC AND YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF A ROTOR.
(NARRATOR)>> NOW THAT WE'VE SEEN HOW THOSE SHINNY ROTORS ARE MADE IT'S ON TO THE BRAKE PADS. COMING UP WE HEAD TO ANOTHER FACILITY WHERE THEY COOK UP SOME GRADE "A" FRICTION MATERIAL.
(MARC)>> HEY EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK. WE'RE HERE AT THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF EBC BRAKES IN NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, AND THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHERE ALL THE MAGIC HAPPENS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE BRAKE PADS ARE BORN. WHAT STARTS OFF AS ROLLS OF RAW STEEL GOES INTO THIS POWER PRESS AND WHAT COMES OUT IS A BRAKE BACKING PLATE. NOW THIS THING WOULD NORMALLY BE USED TO JUST GO AHEAD AND GLUE THE FRICTION MATERIAL ON HERE. THEY CAN MAKE BACKING PLATES FOR JUST ABOUT ANY APPLICATION YOU CAN THINK OF, BUT INSTEAD OF JUST GLUING THAT FRICTION MATERIAL ON HERE EBC TAKES IT A STEP FURTHER WITH THIS MACHINE. THIS IS CALLED THE NRS MACHINE. WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROVIDES A MECHANICAL ADHESION FRICTION MATERIAL TO STICK TO, WHICH IS DONE AT THEIR BRISTOL FACILITY.
TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN AND HEAD TO BRISTOL, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO HOURS WEST OF NORTHAMPTON.
AND HERE IS WHERE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS TAKES PLACE. THIS IS THE MIXING AREA. THIS IS OF COURSE WHERE ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS GET COMBINED TO FORM WHAT'S GOING TO BECOME THE FRICTION MATERIAL OF THE BRAKE PAD. NOW I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY USE BECAUSE IT'S ALL PROPRIETARY AND IT VARIES FOR APPLICATION, BUT THEY USE THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE, WHICH YOU COULD USE TO MAKE A BULLETPROOF VEST. NOW ONCE ALL OF THAT STUFF IS COMBINED, WELL IT'S GONNA BE SENT DOWN ONE OF THESE CHUTES WHERE IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH A PREFORM AND GET ATTACHED TO THE BACKING PLATE, AND IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE THIS, AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP.
(TOMMY)>> THAT WOULD BE THIS MACHINE, WHICH HEATS AND COMPRESSES THE MATERIAL FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, GIVING IT A MUCH MORE FAMILIAR SHAPE.
THEN THE PADS ARE BAKED OVER SEVERAL HOURS TO ELIMINATE IMPURITIES IN THE MATERIAL. ONCE THAT'S DONE THEY'RE REMOVED, AND THEN PLACED INTO THIS MACHINE. IT GRINDS AND CUTS DOWN THE PADS TO A NICE UNIFORM SHAPE.
(MARC)>> NEXT UP IS POWDER COATING. EBC HAS A VARIETY OF COLORS, WHICH THEY USE TO DESIGNATE WHICH APPLICATION EACH PAD IS FOR. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY THEIR GREEN STUFF PADS, WHICH ARE FOR SPORT APPLICATIONS. AFTER BAKING THEY GET LABELED AND RECEIVE A LAYER OF BREAK IN COMPOUND.
NEXT UP THEY GET ARRANGED ONTO A SERIES OF TRAYS AND MOVED UPSTAIRS.
(TOMMY)>> THIS IS WHERE THEY GET PACKED INTO BOXES AND PREPPED FOR SHIPPING ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE US.
(MARC)>> THEY MAKE A HUGE VARIETY OF BRAKE PADS RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING. EVERYTHING FROM BICYCLE BRAKES TO TRAIN BRAKES, INCLUDING THESE SPECIAL PADS FOR THEIR RACING DIVISION.
(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT WE POP IN ON A CARS AND COFFEE EVENT, BUT THIS ONE IS ALL EXOTICS, AND LATER WE'LL SEE HOW THE FINAL PIECE OF A BRAKE KIT IS MADE, THE CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> HEY FOLKS WE'RE BACK AND WE'VE JUMPED BACK OVER NEAR NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, TO A VILLAGE KNOWN AS SHARNBROOK WHERE WE FOUND OF ALL THINGS AN EXOTICS CARS AND COFFEE. ALL RIGHT, WELL I'M OUT FRONT HERE WATCHING THE CARS ROLL IN. FERRARI F50, I MEAN THAT SAYS IT ALL. WE'VE GOT MORE FERRARIS, LAMBORGHINIS, BENTLEYS. I MEAN YOU NAME IT, SUPER CARS, HYPER CARS, THEY'RE ALL HERE, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ENGLAND HOPEFULLY IF WE'RE LUCKY WE'RE GONNA GET TO SEE SOME AMERICAN MUSCLE AS WELL. LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
(TOMMY)>> THIS ALL TAKES PLACE AT THE SHARNBROOK HOTEL, UNDER THIS GUY'S WATCHFUL EYE.
(CIRO)>> MARK, DAVE, WHY DID THAT MERCEDES JUST DRIVE STRAIGHT THROUGH?
(TOMMY)>> HE'S CIRO CIAMPI, THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL.
(CIRO)>> SO WE'RE BRINGING OUT ALL THE SUPER CARS AND THE HYPER CARS. WE'RE CALLING IT "CARS AND COFFEE SHARNBROOK", BUT WE'RE ADDING IN ANOTHER TWIST. IT'S FOR CHARITY. SO HERE TODAY WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR RAYS OF SUNSHINE CHILDREN'S CHARITY IN LONDON. WE AIMED TO RAISE OVER $10,000 POUND IN A YEAR.
(MARC)>> WELL WE'VE GOT MODIFIED CARS HERE AS WELL, LIKE THIS RWB PORSCHE. IT WAS BUILT IN GERMANY, MODIFIED IN JAPAN, AND DRIVEN RIGHT HERE ON THE STREETS OF THE UK. WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF OTHER MODIFIED VEHICLES AS WELL. TOM?
(TOMMY)>> THE COMMON THREAD WITH THESE CARS IS THAT THEY'RE FAST. THERE'S ANYTHING FROM AN ACR VIPER TO A GTR. LET'S GO CHECK THESE THINGS OUT.
NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU FOLKS, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF LAMBOS OUT IN THE WILD. YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT LAMBORGHINI ALLEY. IT'S PRACTICALLY RAINING THESE THINGS AROUND HERE.
(MARC)>> PERSONALLY I THINK THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULL. I PREFER THE PRANCING PONIES OF THE FERRARIS. NOW WE'VE GOT SILVER ONES AND GRAY ONES, BUT OF COURSE WE'VE GOT YOUR REGULAR RED ONES, WHICH YOU NORMALLY SEE OUT IN THE WILD. THERE'S ACTUALLY CLOSE TO TWO DOZEN OF THEM HERE.
(CHARLIE)>> THEY'RE FAST, THEY LOOK COOL, AND YEAH, THAT.
(TOMMY)>> I MEAN WHAT ELSE CAN YOU GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT? I MEAN IT'S FAST AND IT LOOKS COOL RIGHT?
(CHARLIE)>> YEAH.
(MARC)>> AS A MATTER OF FACT WE DID MANAGE TO FIND SOME MUSCLE CARS GROUPED TOGETHER IN MUSCLE CAR ROW.
(PETER)>> I BOUGHT IT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT WAS A RACE CAR AT THE TIME AND I TURNED IT INTO A ROAD CAR.
(TANIA)>> YOU CAN GET THESE LOVELY SMALL CARS IN ENGLAND. LOVELY, PRETTY LITTLE SMALL CARS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VEIGHT, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT GROWL, ROAR. THERE'S ON EARTH LIKE IT, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
(TOMMY)>> THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT CAR GUYS NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. THEY LIKE TO LEND A HAND.
(CIRO)>> WE'VE RAISED $26,200 POUNDS FOR RAYS OF SUNSHINE CHILDREN'S CHARITY. COMPLETELY BLOWN ANY EXPECTATION OUT OF THE WATER. [ engine revving ]
(NARRATOR)>> STICK AROUND, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TRIP TO THE FOUNDRY WHERE MOLTEN ALUMINUM BECOMES CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> HEY WE'RE BACK. SO FAR WE'VE LEARNED HOW EBC IN THE UK MANUFACTURERS TOP QUALITY BRAKE ROTORS AS WELL AS THE PROCESS TO MAKE BRAKE PADS. WELL AS FOR THE CALIPERS, THEIR BODIES ARE CAST JUST DOWN THE STREET HERE ABOUT 10 MILES IN KETTERING WHERE THEY START AS THIS ALUMINUM INGOT HERE. THOSE INGOTS ARE PUT INTO THIS HOT FURNACE HERE WHERE THEY'RE MELTED, AND THAT HOT MOLTEN ALUMINUM COMES OUT OF THERE AND GOES INTO THIS LOW PRESSURE CASTING MACHINE. WHEN IT COMES IT OUT, WELL IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE THIS HERE. THIS IS SIMON AND HE'S WITH TURNER ALUMINUM. SIMON, WHY DO YOU USE THIS PROCESS?
(SIMON)>> WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING AND WE FOUND THAT LOW PRESSURE CASTING PRODUCES A FAR MORE HOMOGENOUS, A SOUNDER, STRONGER, GREATER STRENGTH PRODUCT WITH LESS IMPURITIES IN IT. WE END UP MAKING A REALLY STRONG PRODUCT. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF FORCES WORKING AGAINST YOU. WHEN IT'S BRAKING NEEDS TO BE A VERY STRONG PRODUCT. THIS PROCESS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
(MARC)>> SO A LITTLE BIT OF MACHINING WE'LL HAVE OURSELVES A CALIPER.
(SIMON)>> SUPERB QUALITY PRO CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> WHILE IT MIGHT LOOK OLD SCHOOL THIS PROCESS ISN'T YOUR DADDY'S GRAVITY FED CASTING METHOD. THE MOLTEN ALUMINUM IS PLACED UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT PRESSURE WHICH, LIKE SIMON TOLD US, GIVES YOU A MUCH BETTER PRODUCT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S STILL TOUGH WORK.
(TOMMY)>> AFTER A FEW MINUTES IN THE MOLD THE MACHINE RAISES UP TO REVEAL THESE NEWLY MINTED CALIPERS.
(MARC)>> SO ADAM, I SUSPECT YOU COULD PROBABLY SHIP SOME OF THIS STUFF OVER SEAS TO BE DONE. WHY IS IT THAT YOU HAVE STUFF LIKE THIS DONE HERE IN YOUR BACK YARD?
(ADAM)>> FOR SURE, WELL FOR ME PERSONALLY BUT ALSO FOR EBC IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN SOURCE COMPONENTRY LOCALLY. THAT GIVES US MORE CONTROL OVER THE PROCESS. WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE QUALITY THAT WE WANT, BUT WE CAN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE PRODUCTS TO THE PRICE THAT'S COMPETITIVE TO US, AND ALSO WE LIKE SUPPORTING OTHER FAMILY BUSINESSES LIKE OURS. SO FOR ME, AND PREVIOUSLY WE TRY AND SOURCE COMPONENTRY LOCALLY WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US.
(MARC)>> AWESOME, LET'S GO BUILD A CALIPER. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
(ADAM)>> LET'S DO IT MAN.
(TOMMY)>> YOU GUYS HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF INVENTORY.
(JAMES)>> WE DO TOMMY. WE HAVE OVER 30,000 SKIDS HERE.
(TOMMY)>> WHERE ALL DO YOU GUYS SHIP TO?
(JAMES)>> WELL FROM THIS WAREHOUSE ALONE WE SHOP TO OVER 120 COUNTRIES, AND THEN WE HAVE LAS VEGAS TO DEAL WITH NORTH AMERICA ALONE.
(TOMMY)>> WHAT ALL DO YOU MAKE PRODUCT FOR?
(JAMES)>> WE MAKE PRODUCT FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE BRAKES, MOTORCYCLE BRAKES, GO KART BRAKES, SCOOTER BRAKES, ATV BRAKES, UTV BRAKES, CAR BRAKES, TRUCK BRAKES, RACING BRAKES, SEMI TRUCK BRAKES, RAILWAY BRAKES. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
(MARC)>> WELL AFTER THE CASTING PROCESS THE CALIPERS GET MACHINED AND THEN THEY GET SENT OFF TO BE ANODIZED, AND THEY COME BACK LOOKING LIKE THIS. ADAM WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
(ADAM)>> SO THEN WE BOLT THE CALIPERS TOGETHER. THEY BECOME A COMPLETE FULL BODY LIKE THIS, AND THEN WE SEND THE CALIPERS OFF TO BE COATED. ONCE THEY'VE BEEN COATED THEY COME BACK, AND THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN FINAL ASSEMBLY. SO THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS INSTALL THE CROSS OVER PIPE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TORQUE THE FITTINGS UP TO SPEC.
AND THE NEXT THING TO INSTALL IS THE BLEED NIPPLE. SO THEN WE'RE GONNA TORQUE THE FITTINGS. SO THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA PUT THE PISTONS IN BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA USE A BIT OF ASSEMBLY PASTE JUST TO EASE THE ASSEMBLY HERE. RUB IT RIGHT THE WAY AROUND.
SO THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA PUT THE ABUTMENT PLATES ON, FASTEN THEM WITH THIS BOLT.
THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT THE BOLT COLLAR IN PLACE AND SLIDE IN THE PAD RETENTION BOLT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'VE FINISHED WITH ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE ONE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT BRAKE CALIPER.
(JAMES)>> WELL WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT. EVERY SINGLE CALIPER WHICH IS MADE HERE IS FULLY TESTED ON THIS MACHINE. TOMMY LET'S HAVE A GO AND TEST IT.
(MARC)>> THIS MACHINE PRESSURIZES THE CALIPER WITH UP TO 1,700 PSI OF AIR TO CHECK FOR LEAKS AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. IF NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND THE CALIPER PASSES.
(TOMMY)>> WELL JAMES I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR HAVING US AND SHOWING US SOME OF YOUR BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND I'M SURE A LITTLE LATER DOWN THE ROAD WE'RE GONNA HIT YOU UP FOR SOME PRODUCT FOR OUR FUTURE PROJECTS, BUT THERE'S A FEW MORE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SEE. SO WE NEED TO HIT THE ROAD.
(JAMES)>> YOU'RE WELCOME TOMMY, CHEERS!
(MARC)>> HEY Y'ALL, RECENTLY WE TALKED ABOUT FASTENERS. MAINLY BOLTS AND NUTS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE BOLTS ARE THE MOST COMMON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES, AND SHAPES. YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT LENGTHS, DIFFERENT THREAT PITCH, THEY'RE MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL, AND FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS AS WELL, BUT BOLTS AREN'T THE ONLY TYPE OF FASTENER THAT'S OUT THERE. IN FACT WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES RIGHT HERE IN THIS SHOP, AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A FEW AND HOW TO USE THEM. WELL THIS RIGHT HERE IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR RUN OF THE MILL SCREWS. THESE ARE ACTUALLY SHEET METAL SCREWS, AND THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZES, AND SHAPES, AND LENGTHS, AND DIFFERENT HEADS, LIKE THIS ONE HAS A SOCKET HEAD. IT EVEN HAS A GROOVE HERE FOR A FLAT HEAD SCREW DRIVER, BUT MOSTLY WHAT WE USE HERE IN THE SHOP WOULD BE THESE PHILLIPS HEAD PAN SCREWS HERE. I'M ACTUALLY GONNA INSTALL THIS ONE. WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THESE IS THE HOLES DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. IN FACT IF YOU CAN GET THE TIP IN THERE, TYPICALLY YOU CAN DRIVE THE WHOLE SCREW IN.
NOW YOU COULD CONSIDER SCREWS AS TEMPORARY OR SEMI PERMANENT, BUT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE PERMANENT YOU COULD GO TO SOMETHING LIKE A RIVET, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL THESE POP RIVETS HERE BUT YOU NEED A SPECIAL TOOL TO INSTALL THEM, WHICH IS THIS, WHAT I CALL A POP RIVET GUN. NOW THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SIZED TIPS HERE FOR DIFFERENT SIZE RIVETS. JUST NEED TO INSTALL THIS LONG END RIGHT HERE INTO THE GUN. YOU JUST INSERT THE RIVET IN THROUGH THE HOLE AND START PULLING THE HANDLE.
YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THING JUST POPPED OFF OF THERE. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM POP RIVETS, AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS STUD ACTUALLY BROKE OFF OF THE RIVET, AND IT BROKE OFF NICE AND CLEAN THERE. NOW THAT'LL HOLD THOSE TWO PIECES OF METAL TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT TO REMOVE IT YOU'RE HAVE TO DRILL IT OUT. NOW THEY MAKE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SIZES OF RIVETS IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS ALL THE WAY UP TO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BIG OR EVEN BIGGER SOMETIMES, BUT TO INSTALL A BIG RIVET LIKE THAT YOU'D NEED A BIGGER GUN, LIKE THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. ANOTHER GOOD WAY TO FASTEN SOMETHING IS WITH A NUT INSERT, WHICH IS THIS THING RIGHT HERE. NOW TO INSTALL IT YOU USE A GUN THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A RIVET GUN. JUST SCREW THE NUT INSERT HERE ONTO THE GUN. NOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL THIS IN THE PIECE OF METAL THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE SCREWING TOO, AND THAT WOULD BE A PIECE OF SHEET METAL LIKE THIS THAT'S NOT THICK ENOUGH, SOMETHING YOU COULD TAP. THEN YOU REMOVE THE GUN. THEN YOU CAN TAKE A BOLT OR A PAN HEAD SCREW LIKE THIS ONE, THREAD IT RIGHT IN. WELL I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR NEXT PROJECT, AND MAYBE YOU CAN PICK UP SOME FASTENERS THAT AREN'T YOU REGULAR RUN OF THE MILL NUTS AND BOLTS.