Abstract: The assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along an axis. A stud is at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the housing and is pivotable relative to the housing. A top edge of the housing is bent radially inwardly to present a flange. A two-piece dust boot is provided including a cover piece of an elastic material and a spring washer. The cover piece extends from a first end portion that is sealed against the housing to a second end portion that is sealed against the stud. The spring washer is at least substantially encapsulated within the cover piece at the first end portion and biases the cover piece against the flange of the housing to establish a seal that is resistant to compression setting between the cover piece and the housing.

Abstract: The ball joint includes a housing and a stud with a spherical bearing surface disposed in the housing. The bearing has a concave spherical bearing surface which is brought into sliding abutment with the spherical bearing surface of the stud. The bearing is of a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced polyamide material and includes carbon fibers which extend circumferentially about the concave spherical bearing surface.

Abstract: A method for producing a brake assembly (22) including friction material (24) molded to a backplate (26) using an improved receptacle plate (20) is provided. The backplate (26) includes openings (30) each having an opening diameter (Do). The receptacle plate (20) includes pins (28) extending transversely from a receiving surface (34). The method includes aligning the openings (30) of the backplate (26) with the pins (28) of the receptacle plate (20). Each pin (28) has a pin diameter (Dp) less than the opening diameter (Do) of the aligned opening (30). The friction material (24) is molded to the backplate (26) by heating the friction material (24) and the receptacle plate (20), and forcing the friction material (24) through the openings (30) of the backplate (26). The pins (28) extend into a center portion (32) of the friction material (24) and improve the degree of curing of the friction material (24).

Abstract: A control arm for a vehicle suspension is provided. The control arm includes a control arm body having a connector for attachment to a wheel assembly, a horizontal bushing for coupling the control arm with a vehicle frame and a vertical socket for also coupling the control arm with a vehicle frame. The vertical socket has a housing which is press fit into an opening of the control arm body and a stud which extends through the housing for engagement with the vehicle frame. A bearing is positioned within the housing between the housing and the stud. The stud has a rounded outer surface, and the bearing has a rounded inner surface for allowing rotational movement of the bearing and housing relative to the stud. A retainer member is in engagement with the housing and the bearing for retaining the bearing in the inner bore of the housing.

Abstract: A metal fiber, copper, and titanate free non-asbestos friction material for brake pads is provided. The friction material includes a binder, such as a phenolic resin, forming 16-24 % by volume; a fiber, such as aramid fiber, forming 4-12 % by volume; a lubricant, such as a blend of antimony tri-sulfide and another metal sulfide, forming 2-5 % by volume; and at least one abrasive, such as a blend of mineral fiber, magnesium oxide, and mica, forming 10-22 % by volume. The friction material further comprises rubber powder in an amount of at least 4 % by volume. The brake pad can be formed by a cost effective process consisting essentially of mixing the ingredients, pressing and curing the friction material to a backing plate, and post baking the brake pad.

Abstract: An improved drum brake assembly for reducing braking vibrations and noise. The improved assembly includes a pair of shoes, each extending through an arc and presenting an outer shoe surface. A pair of brake linings of a friction material are coupled to the outer shoe surface. Each of the brake linings has an upper surface and a pair of oppositely facing chamfered edges. Each chamfered edge has an arc length of no less than one inch and is disposed at an angle of between ten and twenty-five degrees from the tangent of the upper surface where it meets the chamfered edge.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method of designing disc brake pads. The method includes the step of developing a finite element model of a precursor brake pad design using dimensional and material property information of its backing plate and friction pad to perform a normal mode analysis of the precursor brake pad design. The method proceeds with the step of performing the normal mode analysis using the finite element model to determine whether there is an area on the friction surface having an excitation amplitude that is greater than a threshold value of amplitude. If an area having an excitation amplitude greater than the threshold value is determined, the precursor brake pad design is modified to provide a brake pad design having a relieved portion in the area.

Abstract: A ball joint for interconnecting relatively movable components is provided. The ball joint includes a housing and a stud with a spherical bearing surface disposed in the housing. The bearing has a concave spherical bearing surface which is brought into sliding abutment with the spherical bearing surface of the stud. The bearing is of a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced polyamide material and includes carbon fibers which extend circumferentially about the concave spherical bearing surface.

Abstract: A control arm for a vehicle suspension is provided. The control arm includes a control arm body having a connector for attachment to a wheel assembly, a horizontal bushing for coupling the control arm with a vehicle frame and a vertical socket for also coupling the control arm with a vehicle frame. The vertical socket has a housing which is press fit into an opening of the control arm body and a stud which extends through the housing for engagement with the vehicle frame. A bearing is positioned within the housing between the housing and the stud. The stud has a rounded outer surface, and the bearing has a rounded inner surface for allowing rotational movement of the bearing and housing relative to the stud. A retainer member is in engagement with the housing and the bearing for retaining the bearing in the inner bore of the housing.

Abstract: The subject invention generally relates to a disc brake pad which has reduced brake squeal in response to a braking event by the incorporation of a relieved portion to the center section of a friction pad along an outer edge or inner edge thereof, or along both edges. The invention is a disc brake pad which includes a backing plate and friction pad attached to the backing plate.

Abstract: A method for producing a brake assembly (22) including friction material (24) molded to a backplate (26) using an improved receptacle plate (20) is provided. The backplate (26) includes openings (30) each having an opening diameter (Do). The receptacle plate (20) includes pins (28) extending transversely from a receiving surface (34). The method includes aligning the openings (30) of the backplate (26) with the pins (28) of the receptacle plate (20). Each pin (28) has a pin diameter (Dp) less than the opening diameter (Do) of the aligned opening (30). The friction material (24) is molded to the backplate (26) by heating the friction material (24) and the receptacle plate (20), and forcing the friction material (24) through the openings (30) of the backplate (26). The pins (28) extend into a center portion (32) of the friction material (24) and improve the degree of curing of the friction material (24).

Abstract: A non-asbestos friction material includes at least one binder, fiber, lubricant, abrasive and titanate in a range of volume fractions in combination with other materials such as fillers and is substantially free of copper and asbestos.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for disc brake pads and a method of designing disc brake pads. The brake pads include a backing plate and a friction pad having a center section, an outer edge, an inner edge and a friction surface. The method includes the step of developing a finite element model of a precursor brake pad design using dimensional and material property information of the backing plate and friction pad to perform a normal mode analysis of the precursor brake pad design. The method proceeds with the step of performing the normal mode analysis using the finite element model to determine whether there is an area on the friction surface having an excitation amplitude that is greater than a threshold value of amplitude. If an area having an excitation amplitude greater than the threshold value is determined, the precursor brake pad design is modified to provide a brake pad design having a relieved portion in the area.

Abstract: A non-asbestos friction material includes at least one binder, fiber, lubricant, abrasive and titanate in a range of volume fractions in combination with other materials such as fillers and is substantially free of copper and asbestos.

Abstract: A copper and titanate free non-asbestos friction material.

Abstract: The subject invention provides for disc brake pads and a method of designing disc brake pads. The brake pads include a backing plate and a friction pad having a center section, an outer edge, an inner edge and a friction surface. The method includes the step of developing a finite element model of a precursor brake pad design using dimensional and material property information of the backing plate and friction pad to perform a normal mode analysis of the precursor brake pad design. The method proceeds with the step of performing the normal mode analysis using the finite element model to determine whether there is an area on the friction surface having an excitation amplitude that is greater than a threshold value of amplitude. If an area having an excitation amplitude greater than the threshold value is determined, the precursor brake pad design is modified to provide a brake pad design having a relieved portion in the area.

Abstract: The subject invention generally relates to a disc brake pad which has reduced brake squeal in response to a braking event by the incorporation of a relieved portion to the center section of a friction pad along an outer edge or inner edge thereof, or along both edges. The invention is a disc brake pad which includes a backing plate and friction pad attached to the backing plate.