Abstract: An improved structure for a brake pad adapted for use in a disc brake assembly. The brake pad includes a backing plate and a friction pad. The friction pad includes a lengthwise axis of symmetry. The brake pad is adapted to align a friction pad area centroid relative to a piston applied pressure centroid to reduce friction pad tangential taper wear. The force centroid axis and the area centroid axis further define an offset such that the offset diminishes during a braking event.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved disc brake assembly. The disc brake assembly includes a member adapted to be secured to a vehicle component, the member having a pair of ears each provided with at least a first opening formed therethrough; a brake caliper supported relative to the member; a pair of brake shoes carried by the brake caliper, each of the brake shoes including opposed ends having an opening formed therethrough; and a pin disposed in each of the first openings of the ears and extending through the openings formed in the opposed ends of the brake shoes to slidably support the brake shoes and the caliper for movement relative to the member whereby the brake caliper and the brake shoes may be removed from the member without removing the pins from the member.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly includes a brake pad including a base portion, a first ear portion, and an opposed second ear portion. The first ear portion and the second ear portion extend outwardly from the base section. The first ear portion includes a first upper section, a first central section, and a first lower section. The second ear portion includes a second upper section, a second central section, and a second lower section. A first clip receives the first ear portion and a second clip receives the second ear portion. The first ear portion includes a first defined contact location and a second defined contact location in relation to the first clip. The second ear portion includes a third defined contact location in relation to the second clip.

Abstract: A piston adapted for use in a disc brake assembly includes a first end and an opposite second end. At least one of the first and second ends includes a center column and an outer shell. The center column protrudes outwardly beyond the outer shell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pad retraction spring for use in a disc brake assembly. The pad retraction spring is operative to move the friction pads from engagement with the rotor when the friction pads are in a non-braking position. The pad retraction spring is effective to apply a first force against the friction pads when the friction pads are new, and effective to apply a second force against the friction pads when the friction pads are worn. The second force is greater than the first force, and at least one of the first force and the second force by itself is not sufficient to move at least one of the friction pads from engagement with the rotor when the friction pads are in the non-braking condition.

Abstract: This invention related to a multi-layered damped pad spring adapted for use in a disc brake assembly. The disc brake assembly includes an anchor bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle component, a brake caliper adapted to be secured to the anchor bracket, a pair of friction pads carried by the disc brake assembly and adapted to be disposed on opposite axial sides of an associated brake rotor, and actuation means for selectively moving the friction pads into frictional engagement with the rotor. The pad spring is carried by the disc brake assembly and is disposed between the anchor bracket and at least one end of one of the pair of friction pads. In a preferred embodiment, the pad spring is a multi-layered pad spring and includes an outer layer disposed adjacent the friction pad and in contact with at least a portion thereof, and an inner layer disposed adjacent the anchor bracket and in contact with at least a portion thereof.

Abstract: A hitch pin for maintaining a clevis pin in a bore including a continuous wire member formed to include a straight portion ending in a constant radius hinge portion. A parallel portion extends from the hinge portion to a constant radius barb portion. The termination of the barb portion is located on the side of the straight portion opposite the parallel portion and resiliently maintained there by properties of the hinge portion as accentuated by material properties of the wire itself. The hitch pin may be installed in a bore defined in a clevis pin by applying force to the hinge portion after inserting the leadin portion in the bore. During installation, the barb portion is resiliently deformed about the clevis pin and returns to a preinstalled position when the hitch pin installation has been completed. Any forces attempting to remove the hitch pin cause the barb portion to strike the clevis pin presenting a mechanical obstruction to removal.