devonutopia wrote:Can someone please explain this concept as I'm not sure I fully comprehend the use of the word "taper" here. There was talk at our last group meeting about "trail braking" which sounds a little extreme for road use, until someone else described it as more like feathering the brake to maintain a controlled speed around a slow downhill corner. Trail braking is more what I use on trackdays to get the rear end in a good position.
I would suggest that "taper" braking and "trail braking" are two completely separate concepts.
Tapering the braking simply means coming onto the brake pedal with an initial gentle pressure to bring the pads and discs into contact and gently altering the attitude of the car with the weight being moved forward without a jerk, then the braking pressure is firmed up and brake pressure modulated to achieve the desired braking effect, then the pressure on the brake pedal is tapered off as the speed comes down to that which is required. The opposite to tapering the braking is to "jump" on the brakes to start with and then to "jump" off them at the end. This results in a somewhat uncomfortable, unsmooth, jerky brake application. Jumping on and off the brakes is usually a result of inadequate planning.
Trail braking is carrying the braking to the apex of the bend. The purpose behind this is to create a weight transfer towards the front tyres, thus increasing their traction and reducing understeer. A useful technique when driving older Porsche 911s.
So, taper braking is about how one applies the brakes, trail braking is about where one applies the brakes.