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What is the point of having the calipers in different places? In some cars the calipers are towards the front and in other is in the rear of the rotor. Some are tilted towards the top front or top rear. I just want to know the difference and which ones are better.

 
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I think it is more where they fit in relation to the suspension design, the actual location should not make a difference.

 
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It will change how your suspension is loaded torque will stay the same, but point loads will change. I haven't thought about this much, so I could be wrong. But if the caliper is on the front side of the wheel (front of car) the force from the disk torque would be down. This would push the caliper down, ie increasing wheel loading = more traction. (Could be wrong, let me know if I am)

quick math:

1000 kg car, 1 g breaking = force of 9800 N.
Say 70% front loading so each front tire is reacting with 3430 N of force
Civic has about a 60 cm wheel. R = .3m torque = 1029 NM
Brake diameter of 30cm force on caliper of 3430 N
this equals about 350 kg of force. or 770 lbs.

I need to think about this more, I'm not sure if this force is transfered to the pavement or is transfered back to the brake disk? It may not be real? any thoughts?


Also I think it has to do with wear (I.e how much dirt will get in the pad/caliper) I'm guessing here, but mouting them on the front side of the wheel would be better from a wear point of view, as dirt and debris would be forced down with gravity. Mounting on the backside would shoot it up in the air, and fall back on to the caliper. This may cause jamming etc.

I just pulled that all out of my a$$ so it could be completely wrong.

 
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The force is shared think sum of torques = 0 ....

The torque on the axle (suspension) is always the same direction regardless of where the caliper is placed around the disk.

 
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Once awake this morning, I relised the flaw in my thinking. The caliper is attached to the disk via the hub. I.e force net to zero.

I guess my brain was turned off last night.

 
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Think mattskav nailed it- good!