Abstract: A brake temperature monitoring system configured to monitor at least one of a rotor and hydraulic fluid of a brake mechanism for a vehicle. The system including a controller including a processor and an electronic storage medium, a vehicle velocity sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and a pre-programmed module. The vehicle velocity sensor is configured to output a velocity signal to the processor. The ambient temperature sensor is configured to output an ambient temperature signal to the processor. The model is pre-programmed into the electronic storage medium, and is adapted to estimate the temperature of at least one of the rotor and the hydraulic fluid. The estimation is based on an ambient air temperature, and a pre-established relationship between a conductive heat transfer factor and a convective heat transfer factor. The convective heat transfer factor is a function of vehicle velocity.

Abstract: Brake system telemetry systems and methods utilize wireless communication technology to communicate brake system data to one or more vehicle electronic control modules. A wireless transceiver is provided and is operably disposed with the brake system components. The wireless transceiver is coupled to receive data from various components of the brake system at the respective and to communicate the data to one or more electronic control units within the vehicle.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product that may include at least one working friction surface that may include at least two layers that may include a compound layer and a nitrogen diffusion layer wherein the compound layer may have a porosity ranging from about 19% to about 50%.

Abstract: One variation includes a friction material and method of manufacture thereof wherein the friction material includes a transfer layer on a ferritically nitrocarburized component, wherein the transfer layer may be fabricated from glass, rubber, carbon, aramid fiber, filler material, abrasive, or a high-temperature resin.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention may include a product including a body portion including a first face and a frictional damping insert overlying the first face of the body portion. The body portion may include a second face overlying the insert. The insert may have a throughhole and a portion of the body portion may extend from the first face through the throughhole and the insert to the second face of the body portion.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes an automotive brake component, such as a brake drum or a brake rotor, and an inlay coupled to the automotive brake component. The inlay constituting at least a portion of a braking surface that is acted upon during a braking event. The inlay damping vibrations in the automotive brake component when the component is vibrated.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a brake pad, a bracket supporting the brake pad and having a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a linkage interconnecting the first and second portions. The linkage is configured to transfer tensile loads between the first and second portion, but is characterized by the absence of any bending modes. The absence of bending modes prevents excitation of the linkage, thereby reducing sound generated during application of the brake assembly.

Abstract: A method of estimating brake pad wear includes determining required braking energy to be dissipated by a braking system as a fraction of total kinetic energy according to an energy partitioning model. The required braking energy is distributed to vehicle braking mechanisms according to a vehicle dynamics model. Rotor temperature of each brake rotor may be determined according to a rotor temperature model that utilizes the required braking energy and the distribution of the required braking energy, and determining brake pad wear of each brake pad according to a brake pad wear model that utilizes the rotor temperature and the distributed required braking energy. A first brake pad wear model is implemented under first operating conditions, and a second brake pad wear model under second operating conditions. The brake pad wear is indicated via a brake pad wear indicator output device. A vehicle has a controller that implements the method.

Abstract: A method of estimating brake pad wear includes determining required braking energy to be dissipated by a braking system as a fraction of total kinetic energy according to an energy partitioning model. The required braking energy is distributed to vehicle braking mechanisms according to a vehicle dynamics model. Rotor temperature of each brake rotor may be determined according to a rotor temperature model that utilizes the required braking energy and the distribution of the required braking energy, and determining brake pad wear of each brake pad according to a brake pad wear model that utilizes the rotor temperature and the distributed required braking energy. A first brake pad wear model is implemented under first operating conditions, and a second brake pad wear model under second operating conditions. The brake pad wear is indicated via a brake pad wear indicator output device. A vehicle has a controller that implements the method.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a brake disc may include a hub portion and a cheek portion. The hub portion may include a receiving flange for mechanically engaging the cheek portion. The cheek portion may include an upper cheek and a lower cheek connected and separated by a web, and an inner flange extending radially inward from the upper cheek to mechanically engage and communicate with the receiving flange of the hub portion such that the hub portion and the cheek portion form a single brake disc. The inner flange may include a at least one spline tooth circumferentially arranged around the inner flange and constructed and arranged to facilitate the mechanical engagement of the receiving flange and the inner flange.

Abstract: A friction damped brake drum for reducing vibrations in a brake drum.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a brake disc may include a hub portion and a cheek portion. The hub portion may include a receiving flange for mechanically engaging the cheek portion. The cheek portion may include an upper cheek and a lower cheek connected and separated by a web, and an inner flange extending radially inward from the upper cheek to mechanically engage and communicate with the receiving flange of the hub portion such that the hub portion and the cheek portion form a single brake disc. The inner flange may include a at least one spline tooth circumferentially arranged around the inner flange and constructed and arranged to facilitate the mechanical engagement of the receiving flange and the inner flange.

Abstract: One variation includes a friction material and method of manufacture thereof wherein the friction material includes a transfer layer on a ferritically nitrocarburized component, wherein the transfer layer may be fabricated from glass, rubber, carbon, aramid fiber, filler material, abrasive, or a high-temperature resin.

Abstract: A light-weight, sound-damped, composite brake rotor for a vehicle braking system includes a rotor hat and an annular rotor cheek supported by, and cast around, the rotor hat. The rotor hat includes an axially-protruding central hub and an integral flange that extends radially from and circumferentially around the central hub. The rotor cheek includes a top ledge and a bottom ledge that overly a top annular surface and a bottom annular surface, respectively, of the integral flange. An annular interfacial boundary present between an underside of the top and/or bottom ledges and their respective adjacent annular surfaces of the integral flange includes a vibration damping interface. The brake rotor derives its vibration-deadening and sound-damping effects from the vibration damping interface through the occurrence of relative frictional contacting movement.

Abstract: A light-weight and sound-damped brake rotor for a vehicle braking system includes a rotor hat and a rotor cheek supported by the rotor hat. The rotor hat includes an axially-protruding central hub and a flange that extends radially from and circumferentially around the central hub. The rotor cheek, which provides at least one braking surface, is formed from two or more separate and distinct pieces which are fixedly secured to the flange of the rotor hat. Located within the rotor cheek underneath the at least one braking surface is a vibration damping element. The brake rotor derives its vibration-deadening and sound-damping effects from the vibration damping element through the occurrence of relative frictional contacting movement.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a friction damped disc brake rotor, including the steps of: (A) providing a ceramic coating on an insert, wherein the insert has a body with tabs extending therefrom to hold the insert in a desired position within a mold; (B) washing the ceramic coating off of the tabs; (C) positioning the insert into the mold; and (D) casting a rotor cheek of the disc brake rotor in the mold around the insert such that a portion of each tab is bonded with the rotor cheek, and such that the coating is substantially non-bonded with the rotor cheek so that the coating provides a proper interfacial boundary between the body and the cheek for damping, and the at least partial bonding of each tab with the rotor cheek prevents corrosion-causing exterior elements from reaching the interfacial boundary when the friction damped disc brake rotor is in use.

Abstract: An automotive product having a plurality of components coated with a refractory interface coating and method for making the same are provided. The automotive product may include at least a first component and a second component configured to interconnect and engage one another. The first component may be composed of a first high-density material. The second component may be formed of a second lower-density material. A refractory interface coating may be applied at the interconnection between the first and second components to provide an enhanced surface finish to limit friction, prevent metallurgical bonding between the first material and second material, provide a barrier against galvanic corrosion, and provide a thermal barrier between the first component and second component to guard against thermal deformation or change in dimension of the second component.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a brake pad, a bracket supporting the brake pad and having a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a linkage interconnecting the first and second portions. The linkage is configured to transfer tensile loads between the first and second portion, but is characterized by the absence of any bending modes. The absence of bending modes prevents excitation of the linkage, thereby reducing sound generated during application of the brake assembly.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a brake pad, a bracket supporting the brake pad and having a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a linkage interconnecting the first and second portions. The linkage is configured to transfer tensile loads between the first and second portion, but is characterized by the absence of any bending modes. The absence of bending modes prevents excitation of the linkage, thereby reducing sound generated during application of the brake assembly.

Abstract: A light-weight and sound-damped brake rotor for a vehicle braking system includes a rotor hat and a rotor cheek supported by the rotor hat. The rotor hat includes an axially-protruding central hub and a flange that extends radially from and circumferentially around the central hub. The rotor cheek, which provides at least one braking surface, is formed from two or more separate and distinct pieces which are fixedly secured to the flange of the rotor hat. Located within the rotor cheek underneath the at least one braking surface is a vibration damping element. The brake rotor derives its vibration-deadening and sound-damping effects from the vibration damping element through the occurrence of relative frictional contacting movement.