Abstract: A brake assembly capable of providing a park/emergency brake facility and a service brake facility acting on the same friction pad or friction pad pair. The assembly includes a rotatable disc rotor, and at least one friction pad adapted for movement towards a braking surface of the disc rotor to provide a braking effect. The assembly further includes a first brake activating means to provide the park/emergency brake facility operable selectively to urge said one friction pad towards the braking surface of the disc rotor, a second brake activating means to provide a service brake facility selectively operable independently of the first brake activating means to urge the one friction pad towards the braking surface of the disc rotor. A third means normally acts to prevent the first brake activating means from urging the one friction pad towards the braking surface of the disc rotor.

Abstract: A brake arrangement for a vehicle adapted for connection to an axle end. The brake arrangement includes a rotor disc adapted, in use, to rotate with the axle end and a stationary housing enclosing the rotor disc with one or more seals. A substantially sealed zone is provided within at least part of the stationary housing such that at least a braking effect region of the rotor disc, in use, passes through the substantially sealed zone. At least one friction pad is located adjacent a braking surface of the rotor disc in the braking effect region so as to operationally engage the braking surface during a vehicle braking operation. The stationary housing contains a liquid medium within at least the substantially sealed zone, the brake arrangement being characterized in that the liquid medium has a viscosity of less than 7 centistokes mm2/sec at 100° C.

Abstract: A brake pad includes a friction material with a braking surface to contact a rotor disc. The braking surface has a leading edge relative to rotation of the rotor disc, an opposed trailing edge, and inner and outer circumferentially extending edges joining the leading and trailing edges. A plurality of grooves are formed in the friction material and open onto the braking surface. The grooves are angled from a leading end of the grooves rearwardly relative to a radial line and are curved from their leading end to their trailing end, and form substantially the arc of a circle when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the braking surface.