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Tkart magazine

Tech Focus | Tekneex F13, the new Sodikart braking system for KZ classes

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Tech Focus

TEKNEEX F13, THE NEW SODIKART BRAKING SYSTEM FOR KZ CLASSES

Carlo Forni
28 July 2018
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Among the braking systems of the 2018-2020 approval, there is also the one of the French company Sodikart. Among the different variants approved for the manufacturer, we analyse the Tekneex F13, optimised for the KZ category and mounted on Sodikart Sigma chassis (also newly approved). Compared to the past, the system has maintained it's strengths, but improved the effectiveness of braking and, above all, constant performance over time.
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The analysis on the new Tekneex F13 brake system must start from a more general point of view which includes an overall focus on Sodikart 2018 products: focusing not on high performance, but on efficiency and durability. With this in mind, every component of the kart has been revised to try to get the maximum performance in every single lap of a race, up to the chequered flag. Of course, the braking system is one of the most important components: with the Tekneex F13, approved in 2018, valid until 2020, specifically designed for the KZ classes, Sodikart believes it has achieved the necessary improvements to continue to aim for victory.

Thicker brake lines and brake pads; an oil pan with increased capacity; revised hydraulic circuits ... Every key component of the new Tekneex F13 braking system, 100% designed in Sodikart, but built externally, has been revised.
The rear caliper, as in the previous models, remains divided into two parts, obtained from a solid piece to ensure uniformity and good thermo-mechanical characteristics for the body of the caliper. Although many competitors have switched to a monoblock caliper, convinced that this solution should ensure greater structural rigidity, Sodikart believes that this advantage is not really relevant compared, instead, allowing factory teams as well as privateers to work on the rear caliper with greater ease, since it can be opened into two halves.
The rear caliper has four 20 mm wide pistons, so as to ensure the right pressure on the brake pads and the right distribution of force over the entire brake pads - disc contact surfaces. In this way it is possible to achieve maximum power and modulation of the braking, as well as uniform wear of the brake pad. The internal oil passage circuit has been optimized to increase braking power and improve system performance over time. For the same reason, the brake lines that connects the pumps to the calipers has been made bigger. A key factor, again for optimisation of performance over time, is the machining of the caliper pistons (also for the front calipers) which have a profile with slits: these improve the cooling of the pistons and increase the reliability of the system, especially in conditions of high temperatures and grip, where the braking system is put to the test.
As on almost all modern braking systems, the Tekneex F13 is radially mounted on the chassis, with a rigid aluminium plate (like all components of Sodikart, except for the Douglas magnesium rims) which reduces the deformation of the pliers and the attachment and, therefore, keeps the brake disc centered as much as possible and parallel to the brake pads. Significant optimisation work has been done on the aluminum attachments: the aluminium caliper support plate is connected to the bearing holder by means of a double bolt. Similarly, in the attachments of the front calipers, the structure of the attachment fits perfectly on the diameter of the spindle, thanks to a millesimal diameter structure, and is also connected to the caliper by two bolts.

The brake disc is floating and self-ventilated, has a thickness of 18 mm and is available in two diameters: 192 and 205 mm. The former is more suitable for low temperatures and lower grip conditions. The second, vice versa, for high temperature conditions and high grip, since the increased diameter allows controlling the maximum operating temperatures of the braking system. The rear brake disc, as well as the front ones, has slits on the surface to clean the brake pads.

The front and rear brake discs have an internal clover-shape and the external one has a wavy pattern

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The front and rear brake discs have an internal clover-shape and the external one has a wavy pattern

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The master cylinder has a classic shape. The KZ has two master cylinders: one acts on the rear caliper and one on the front calipers. The important change is the increased height, designed to increase the capacity of the oil tank and raise its position for a better recovery of the same. This makes it possible to compensate for any oil level reduction in the circuit due to the wear of the brake pads. The oil indicated by Sodikart is the DOT 4, which allows sufficient lubrication and is easy to find on the market, an aspect that is important for the teams and private customers. A further significant feature of the new pumps is an anti-jet system when the oil tank cover is opened and the brake pedal is pressed to carry out bleeding or topping-up operations. The pump piston has a diameter of 19 mm. It is made, like the pliers, of aluminium, which ensures Sodikart greater reliability and consistency in relation to its mechanical qualities compared to magnesium
Simple and easy to adjust, the brake divider consists of a worm screw mounted on a uniball which can be adjusted using a convenient knob that works effortlessly. As always, especially for the KZ class, the braking distribution is always more focused on the front.
The front calipers are also made of two halves, machined from a solid block with a 5-axis numerical control machine from an aluminium block. There are two pistons, one on each side, with a diameter of 18 mm. The disk, which is also floating, is wider compared to the past, equal to 142 mm (only available size). As new, it has a diameter of 14 mm. As we have already seen, there is also a radial attachment at the front, designed to reduce torsion during braking.
Again with the main aim of increasing the duration of the braking system and its efficiency over time, Sodikart intervened on the pads, making them thicker. Four hardnesses are available, with a new scale whose versions are all red, but with different codes: from A, which indicates the harder compound, and therefore less braking capacity, to D, softer, for powerful and aggressive braking

The front and rear brake discs have an internal clover-shape and the external one has a wavy pattern

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The front and rear brake discs have an internal clover-shape and the external one has a wavy pattern

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