Abstract: A ball joint provided with a ball stud having a ball section at one end thereof, a socket for housing the ball section, and an elastically deformable anti-friction seat mounted between the ball section and the socket and rotatably supporting the ball section, wherein the socket and the anti-friction seat have an opening through which the stud section of the ball stud can be inserted in a loose fit condition. Bases and grooves are arranged in the inner surface of the anti-friction seat so as to extend in a direction across the peripheral edge of the opening and be alternately arranged in the circumferential direction extending along the peripheral edge of the opening. Each of the grooves is isolated from the opening by a partition wall extending between bases on opposite sides of the groove. The bases are in spherical contact with the ball section, and the grooves are filled with a lubricating agent.

Abstract: In a disc brake in which the caliper is supported by a mounting slidably in the axial direction of the rotor via a pair of pin sliding means, the pin sliding means is such that a center of the caliper side axial portions (i.e. collars) mounted rotatably and integrally movably in the axial direction in insertion holes of the caliper is eccentric with respect to the center of the mounting side axial portions (i.e. slide pins) fitted rotatably and slidably in the axial direction into the installation holes in the mounting.

Abstract: A vehicular brake apparatus includes a disc brake mechanism that brakes rotation of a wheel by pressing a friction member against a brake disc. The vehicular brake apparatus has a wall thickness detector that detects a state of wall thickness of the brake disc, and a controller that controls a state of contact between the brake disc and the friction member. Based on the state of wall thickness of the brake disc detected by the wall thickness detector, the controller controls the state of contact between the brake disc and the friction member so that the friction member contacts a relatively great wall thickness portion of the brake disc more strongly than the friction member contacts a relatively small wall thickness portion of the brake disc. The brake apparatus is able to eliminate the wall thickness variation of the brake disc or suppress occurrence of a wall thickness variation.

Abstract: In a disc brake in which the caliper is supported by a mounting slidably in the axial direction of the rotor via a pair of pin sliding means, the pin sliding means is such that a center of the caliper side axial portions (i.e. collars) mounted rotatably and integrally movably in the axial direction in insertion holes of the caliper is eccentric with respect to the center of the mounting side axial portions (i.e. slide pins) fitted rotatably and slidably in the axial direction into the installation holes in the mounting.

Abstract: Electrically operated braking system with a motor-driven disc brake including an electric motor for braking an automotive vehicle wheel, and a motor control device controlling the electric motor, the disc brake further including a disc rotor having a friction surface, a friction pad movable for contact with the friction surface to restrict rotation of the disc rotor, a pad support mechanism for supporting the friction pad movably in a direction intersecting the friction surface, a pad pressing mechanism including the electric motor and a pressing member, the electric motor producing a drive force for moving the pressing member to force the friction pad against the disc rotor, and a self-servo mechanism for providing a self-servo effect of boosting a friction force generated between the friction surface and the friction pad, on the basis of the friction force.

Abstract: A floating caliper disc brake system includes a caliper body housing a piston that presses a brake pad against a disc and a mount that slidably holds the caliper body in a direction perpendicular to the disc. The system further includes a slide pin that guides a sliding motion of the caliper body, which is connected to a pin securing portion provided for one side of the mount. A guide hole with which the slide pin is slidably engaged is formed in the other side of the mount. The slide pin is connected to the pin securing portion through an elastic bushing to decrease a slide pin guide clearance and substantially eliminate dragging.

Abstract: A road surface condition changing apparatus which increases a coefficient of friction between a wheel of a vehicle and a road surface without using any consumable materials. A cylinder member is provided in front of the wheel of the vehicle. The cylinder member is rotatable about a rotational axis corresponding to a longitudinal center of the cylinder member. The cylinder member is pressed against a road surface so as to change a road surface condition while being rotated. A support mechanism supports the cylinder member so that the rotational axis of the cylinder member is parallel to the road surface and is inclined with respect to the rotational axis of the wheel. Protrusions, brushes or a water absorbing material may be provided on an outer surface of the cylinder member.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated brake system having a servo pressure generating device activated by a torque transmitted from a disc rotor to a braking device with a brake cylinder during activation of the braking device by an operator-controlled master cylinder, to generate a servo pressure which is applied to the brake cylinder through a pressure control valve when the servo pressure is higher than the master cylinder pressure. The pressure control valve inhibits a flow of the fluid from the braking device toward the servo pressure generating device when the servo pressure is lower than the master cylinder pressure. A by-pass passage is provided for connecting the braking device and the servo pressure generating device while by-passing the pressure control valve, and a shut-off valve is provided in the by-pass passage. The shut-off valve is open when the master cylinder pressure is lower than a predetermined level, and closed when the master cylinder pressure exceeds the predetermined level.

Abstract: A braking device for an automotive vehicle having a master cylinder to be operated by depression of a brake pedal for producing master cylinder pressure and a wheel brake assembly movably mounted to a road wheel to be operated by the master cylinder pressure applied thereto for applying a braking force to the road wheel in accordance with the depression force of the brake pedal. The braking device includes a hydraulic servo unit mounted on an axle housing of the road wheel and operatively connected to the wheel brake assembly for generating a servo-pressure in a predetermined relationship with the braking force in response to movement of the wheel brake assembly and a hydraulic control device arranged to apply the servo-pressure to the wheel brake assembly when the servo-pressure does not increase in a predetermined relationship with a increase of the master cylinder pressure.