Abstract: A brake comprises an elongate friction pad engageable with a rotor surface, the friction pad being supported close to the rotor surface by a support. A connecting link connects the support to a fixed structure and transmits the braking drag forces to the fixed structure whilst permitting a degree of substantially friction-free movement of the body of friction material toward and away from the rotor surface.

Abstract: In a railway disc brake, a plurality of arcuate elements or segments of a braking ring are attached to the rotor so that each element or segment can thermally expand and contract relative to the rotor, and pairs of circumferentially spaced locating abutments are provided for preventing radial inward and outward movement of the element or segment relative to the rotor at predetermined locations which are selected so that when the element undergoes thermal expansion or contraction with respect to the rotor there is no movement of the element into or out of engagement with the abutments. The abutments may take the form of radial projections on the element or segment or rotor, which projections are urged into engagement with a groove in the rotor or disc element, respectively by further abutments, such as in the form of camming wedges or springs. Alternatively the abutments may be lateral projections on the rotor which are a sliding fit in elongated grooves in the element or segment.