Abstract: A brake pad for a motor vehicle is provided. The brake pad includes a body having an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge is configured for positioning relative to an outer diameter of a rotor. The brake pad also includes a friction surface extending between the upper edge and the lower edge for engaging the rotor. The brake pad further includes a relieved portion located along a section of the upper edge. The relieved portion is configured to reduce squeal noise caused by tangential modes of the rotor, during engagement of the brake pad with the rotor, by minimizing contact between the friction surface of the brake pad and the outer diameter of the rotor at an area of the rotor having a potential for high modal displacement in a tangential direction.

Abstract: A brake pad retracting device is disclosed. An example vehicle braking system comprising a rotor, and a caliper including a brake pad slidably engaged with a guide pin, and a coil spring through which the guide pin extends, the coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first inner diameter sized to enable the first end to move freely over a surface of the guide pin, the first end to engage the brake pad to urge the brake pad away from the rotor, and the second end having a second inner diameter sized to frictionally engage the surface of the guide pin, the first inner diameter greater than the second inner diameter.

Abstract: A brake pad retracting device is disclosed. An example vehicle braking system comprising a rotor, and a caliper including a brake pad slidably engaged with a guide pin, and a coil spring through which the guide pin extends, the coil spring having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first inner diameter sized to enable the first end to move freely over a surface of the guide pin, the first end to engage the brake pad to urge the brake pad away from the rotor, and the second end having a second inner diameter sized to frictionally engage the surface of the guide pin, the first inner diameter greater than the second inner diameter.

Abstract: A brake pad for a motor vehicle is provided. The brake pad includes a body having an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge is configured for positioning relative to an outer diameter of a rotor. The brake pad also includes a friction surface extending between the upper edge and the lower edge for engaging the rotor. The brake pad further includes a relieved portion located along a section of the upper edge.

Abstract: A brake pad for a motor vehicle is provided. The brake pad includes a body having upper and lower edges and a friction surface extending between the upper and lower edges for engaging a rotor. A notch is located along a section of the upper edge of the brake pad. The notch has an arc length of about ¼ to about ½ of an arc length of the pad and a depth of about ? to about ? of a height of the pad. During engagement with the rotor, the notch is configured to reduce squeal noise caused by tangential modes of the rotor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a coolant circuit, a refrigerant circuit, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to charge a battery via regenerative braking. The coolant circuit has an electric heater. The refrigerant circuit has an electric compressor. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a capacity of the battery to receive power being less available regenerative braking power and ambient air temperature being less than a first threshold, direct regenerative braking power to the heater but not the compressor. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the capacity of the battery to receive power being less available regenerative braking power and ambient air temperature exceeding a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, direct regenerative braking power to the compressor but not the heater.

Abstract: A multiple function brake caliper guide pin for use with a wireless transmitter to transmit brake wear data is disclosed. The pin is part of a brake assembly that includes a brake caliper, a caliper yoke for supporting the caliper in relation to the rotor, opposed brake pads, a wear sensor, and a brake wear sensing assembly comprising a brake caliper guide pin and a wireless transmitter system. The guide pin may be either of a two-piece or a one-piece design and includes a transmitter system attachment end and a yoke attachment end. The transmitter system includes a sensor for sensing brake pad wear and a wireless transmitter for transmitting the sensed wear to a receiver in the vehicle. The sensor may include a tether attached to a brake pad or may include a transmitter and magnet assembly fitted to one or the other of the caliper or the yoke.

Abstract: A brake component may include a body and at least one sheathed cable positioned within the body. The at least one sheathed cable may include a plurality of wires, each of the plurality of wires having a surface in sliding contact with a surface of at least one adjacent wire of the plurality of wires. During braking of the motor vehicle, relative sliding movement between the surfaces of the plurality of wires may dampen a resonant vibration of the component.

Abstract: A multiple function brake caliper guide pin for use with a wireless transmitter to transmit brake wear data is disclosed. The pin is part of a brake assembly that includes a brake caliper, a caliper yoke for supporting the caliper in relation to the rotor, opposed brake pads, a wear sensor, and a brake wear sensing assembly comprising a brake caliper guide pin and a wireless transmitter system. The guide pin may be either of a two-piece or a one-piece design and includes a transmitter system attachment end and a yoke attachment end. The transmitter system includes a sensor for sensing brake pad wear and a wireless transmitter for transmitting the sensed wear to a receiver in the vehicle. The sensor may include a tether attached to a brake pad or may include a transmitter and magnet assembly fitted to one or the other of the caliper or the yoke.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing brake drag in a brake system of a vehicle. It may be determined that the vehicle is stationary. A brake pressure of the brake system may be monitored. The monitored brake pressure may then be compared to a brake pressure criteria. A brake pressure to be applied may be regulated when the monitored brake pressure does not meet the brake pressure criteria, wherein the applied brake pressure meets the pressure criteria.

Abstract: A brake component for a motor vehicle may include a body and at least one cable positioned within the body. The at least one cable may include a plurality of wires positioned relative to one another, each of the plurality of wires having a surface in sliding contact with surfaces of adjacent wires of the plurality of wires. During braking of the motor vehicle, sliding movement of the surfaces of the plurality of wires relative to each other may dampen a resonant frequency of the component.

Abstract: A brake pad for a motor vehicle is provided. The brake pad includes a body having upper and lower edges and a friction surface extending between the upper and lower edges for engaging a rotor. A notch is located along a section of the upper edge of the brake pad. The notch has an arc length of about ¼ to about ½ of an arc length of the pad and a depth of about ? to about ? of a height of the pad. During engagement with the rotor, the notch is configured to reduce squeal noise caused by tangential modes of the rotor.

Abstract: A brake component may include a body and at least one sheathed cable positioned within the body. The at least one sheathed cable may include a plurality of wires, each of the plurality of wires having a surface in sliding contact with a surface of at least one adjacent wire of the plurality of wires. During braking of the motor vehicle, relative sliding movement between the surfaces of the plurality of wires may dampen a resonant vibration of the component.

Abstract: A brake caliper for a brake system of a vehicle includes a caliper body, a piston, and a brake insulator. The piston may be positioned at least partially inside the caliper body. The brake insulator includes a fabric and is positioned adjacent to a face of the piston. The brake insulator may have a thickness of about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm. The brake insulator may include a fabric connected to the piston and the fabric may include polymeric elements. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a brake insulator for a brake caliper may include a fabric having a plurality of elements positioned relative to one another to create a plurality of interstices between the elements. The interstices may include air pockets and the brake insulator may have a thickness of about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm. A vehicle may include the exemplary embodiments of the brake insulator and the brake caliper.

Abstract: A brake component for a motor vehicle may include a body and at least one cable positioned within the body. The at least one cable may include a plurality of wires positioned relative to one another, each of the plurality of wires having a surface in sliding contact with surfaces of adjacent wires of the plurality of wires. During braking of the motor vehicle, sliding movement of the surfaces of the plurality of wires relative to each other may dampen a resonant frequency of the component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing brake drag in a brake system of a vehicle. It may be determined that the vehicle is stationary. A brake pressure of the brake system may be monitored. The monitored brake pressure may then be compared to a brake pressure criteria. A brake pressure to be applied may be regulated when the monitored brake pressure does not meet the brake pressure criteria, wherein the applied brake pressure meets the pressure criteria.

Abstract: A vacuum enhancer having four apertures, one of which is open to the atmosphere, wherein a piston selectively restricts fluid flow through an ejector based on a pressure differential between a vacuum chamber within the vacuum booster and true atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A brake caliper for a brake system of a vehicle includes a caliper body, a piston, and a brake insulator. The piston may be positioned at least partially inside the caliper body. The brake insulator includes a fabric and is positioned adjacent to a face of the piston. The brake insulator may have a thickness of about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm. The brake insulator may include a fabric connected to the piston and the fabric may include polymeric elements. According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a brake insulator for a brake caliper may include a fabric having a plurality of elements positioned relative to one another to create a plurality of interstices between the elements. The interstices may include air pockets and the brake insulator may have a thickness of about 0.75 mm to about 1.5 mm. A vehicle may include the exemplary embodiments of the brake insulator and the brake caliper.

Abstract: A vacuum enhancer having four apertures, one of which is open to the atmosphere, wherein a piston selectively restricts fluid flow through an ejector based on a pressure differential between a vacuum chamber within the vacuum booster and true atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sensing wear of a component are described. A wear-sensing device has a wear component and a wireless sensor disposed within the wear component. The sensor generates a signal, detectable by a detector, for confirming the presence of the sensor. Further, the claimed invention includes a positioner for precisely positioning the sensor within the wear component. Also, an authentication module is present for authenticating the sensor.