Abstract: A wheel cylinder assembly for drum brake system. The wheel cylinder assembly includes a housing that defines a piston bore. A seal groove that is sized to receive an annular seal is formed into the piston bore. A piston is disposed in the piston bore and through the seal such that the seal sealingly engages both the housing and the piston. The construction of the wheel cylinder is such that honing and/or roller burnishing of the piston bore is not required.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a hand brake is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing (2) and an adjustable actuator (4, 6), wherein the housing (2) has a cavity which contains a ball ramp plate (48, 50) and a sleeve nut (6) to prevent their rotation.

Abstract: A disc brake return spring comprises a V-shaped spring having two spring members, with each member ending in an engagement leg. Each engagement leg is angled with respect to the spring legs in a fashion so that the spring applies a moment to the friction pad to counteract rotation that occurs about the backing plate supports. The return spring is employed in a disc brake assembly having friction pads with backing plates that are disposed on either side of a rotor for braking purposes.

Abstract: A backing plate for a drum brake system comprises an abutment plate made of strong material and a shielding plate that is lighter and is made of noise and vibration dampening material. The abutment plate attaches to the vehicle and is configured to engage brake shoes to resist braking forces. The shielding plate is preferably made of relatively this damped steel to reduce the speaker effect of the backing plate and reduce overall NVH.

Abstract: A dual leading-shoe drum brake system includes two actuating levers that engage brake shoes. The levers are located between upper and lower anchors, with the bottoms of the actuating levers engaging the lower anchor as a fulcrum. A hydraulic cylinder is arranged to engage the upper ends of the levers to force them apart during braking. A brake shoe is positioned adjacent each lever so that the shoes are forced outward with the levers. The brake shoes selectively engage the upper and lower anchors during braking to receive the braking forces depending on the direction of rotation of the brake drum. The levers preferably float with respect to the backing plate, and the shoes are connected to the lever to float with them. A parking brake lever is arranged to engage an automatic adjusting link to provide dual leading-shoe operation during braking also.

Abstract: A pressure plate for a disc brake pad is provided with ears having increased thickness to ensure retention of the pad in the brake housing when the friction material is worn. The increased thickness is obtained by linearly displacing one or more sections of the ears perpendicular to the plate by stamping, and preferably by fine blanking. This process optimizes the life of the stamping tools and does not require subsequent machining.

Abstract: A brake hold down assembly for brake mechanisms has a hold down spring designed to ease spring installation and removal as well as reduce spring overstressing. Each leg of the spring has an open-ended slot therein, and the assembly also includes a retaining pin, which interfaces with the open-ended slot in each leg to lock the spring in place after installation. The spring is preferably p-shaped with a pair of opposing legs connected by an arcuate portion.

Abstract: A flat lever (314) for use in a blind-cable-connection parking brake system is formed by stamping from sheet steel stock. At one end, the lever is adapted for pivotal connection with a backing plate, and at its other end, the lever is stamped to defined opposed spaced inclined ramp (314a) and helical guide spring support (314b) portions integral with the lever. In order to properly orient the guide spring relative to the ramp, the guide spring support includes a support ledge (314d) for supporting one end of the spring (320) relative to a spring-receiving opening formed in the guide spring support portion.