Abstract: Caliper brake apparatus has a caliper housing, an actuator including a plunger movable axially longitudinally to urge a lining against a rotating disc, and the lining having the form of a plate which is laterally elongated and defines a plane generally perpendicular to said axis. The apparatus is improved by:(a) the plunger having cross sections in planes normal to said axis and characterized as laterally elongated and as having lateral length dimensions which are substantially greater than the plunger transverse width dimension, the width dimension being generally normal to said axis and to said lateral length dimension, and(b) the actuator having a recess receiving the plunger, the recess having cross sections in planes normal to said longitudinal axis characterized as conforming in shape to said plunger cross sections.In addition, one or more removable end plates may be employed to removably retain the lining in position.