This paper discusses The Budd Company's development of a new and novel approach to an old product. It involves the design, development, and manufacture of a brake disc for an automotive disc brake using materials other than cast iron. This product must have all the qualities of a cast iron disc, but must be competitive price-wise. The development of a solid disc would have been a relatively simple challenge; however, a ventilated type disc complicated the task by requiring a composite or welded structure. Real ingenuity in design and material processing was demanded. The results are what is called the Budd “All Steel Brake Disc.”
