WO2001059316A1

WO2001059316A1 - Disc brake assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001059316A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Sawyer
Original assignee: Pbr Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-07
Filing date: 2001-02-06
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Also published as: TW477875B; AUPQ547000A0

Abstract

A friction pad for use in a disc brake assembly, which disc brake assembly includes a disc brake rotor and a disc brake caliper (100), the disc brake caliper (100) having a housing (106) arranged to straddle the edge periphery of the rotor, and an anchor bracket (107) for attaching the caliper (100) to a vehicle. Friction pads (101) are disposed on opposite sides of the rotor with each friction pad (101) including an elongate backing member (103) and a friction lining (104). Actuating means (121) are provided for displacing the friction pads (101) into engagement with opposite sides of the rotor. The backing member (103) includes first connecitng means (115) for connecting the friction pad (101) to the housing (106). The first connecting means (115) having a connecting facility extending from an edge (116) of the backing member (103). The backing member (103) includes second connecting means (118) for connecting the friction pad (101) to the anchor bracket (107). The first and second connecting means (115, 118) being such as to permit first relative movement between the housing (106) and the anchor bracket (107) whereby the first and second connecting means (115, 118) combine to connect the housing (106) to the anchor bracket (107).

Description

DISC BRAKE ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a disc brake assembly principally, but not exclusively for use in motor vehicles such as cars. It will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to vehicles of this kind, although it is to be appreciated that the invention can have wider application.

Disc brakes have been widely employed in motor cars for some years. In a typical disc brake assembly for a car, a caliper bridge or housing is arranged to straddle a rotatable disc or rotor, which is connected to rotate with a wheel of the vehicle. The housing incorporates inboard and outboard supports or friction pads, for supporting brake friction material and those supports are relatively movable to permit engagement of the friction material with opposite faces of the rotor. By that engagement, a braking influence can be exerted on the rotor and the wheel to which the rotor is connected. Relative movement of the respective friction pads is by actuating means, normally by hydraulic piston means, which generally acts to shift the inboard support. A single hydraulic piston may be provided for this purpose, although it is equally permissible to employ two or more such pistons.

Typical disc brake assemblies further include an anchor bracket, which in use is anchored to a suspension member of the vehicle and the anchor bracket and the housing are connected together in a manner that permits relative movement. The manner of connection has most commonly been by way of a pair of pins, which are spaced apart on opposite sides of the housing and which are slidably received in openings in the anchor bracket, to permit sliding movement between the housing and the bracket. Such so-called "pin- guided" calipers operate effectively, but the actual pins are relatively expensive in terms of the overall cost of the disc brake assembly.

Disc brake assemblies which do not have the above described "pin- guided" arrangement are available and one particular form of such an assembly employs the actual friction pads to guide the housing relative to the anchor bracket during relative movement. Such an assembly is advantageous because it dispenses with the need for the disc brake assembly to employ guiding pins, which means the overall expense of the assembly can be reduced. However, so-called "pad-guided" calipers have not been generally adopted by the automotive industry because the cost advantage of current designs has not been such as to move from the existing pin-guided calipers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pad- guided disc brake assembly that has greater general acceptance in the automotive industry. It is a further object of the invention to provide a disc brake assembly of reduced cost and complexity.

According to the present invention there is provided a disc brake assembly, including a disc brake rotor and a disc brake caliper, said disc brake caliper having a housing arranged to straddle the edge periphery of said rotor, an anchor bracket for attaching said caliper to a vehicle, said housing supporting a pair of friction pads disposed on opposite sides of said rotor, and actuating means for displacing said friction pads into engagement with said opposite sides of said rotor, said friction pads being arranged to connect said housing to said anchor bracket and said connection being such as to permit first relative movement between said pair of friction pads and second relative movement between said housing and said anchor bracket.

The above assembly advantageously does not require pin guides, but rather the connection normally made between the housing and the anchor plate by such pin guides is made instead by the friction pads. Thus, a disc brake assembly according to the invention can be of reduced cost and complexity by eliminating the need for pin guides.

Moreover, a disc brake assembly of the present invention, advantageously may employ friction pads generally of the kind already employed in a rotor brake assemblies of the pin guided kind. Such friction pads include a backing member of elongate form, to which is applied a friction lining on one side face thereof. The backing member may be gently curved to match the curvature of the rotor and the friction lining may also be curved in a complementary manner. Such a friction pad may be employed in a disc brake assembly according to the invention, by configuring the backing plate to include the connecting means described above.

The present invention further provides a friction pad for use in a disc brake assembly of the kind in which the disc brake assembly includes a disc brake rotor and a disc brake caliper, said disc brake caliper having a housing arranged to straddle the edge periphery of said rotor and an anchor bracket for attaching said caliper to a vehicle, said housing being arranged for supporting a pair said friction pads disposed on opposite sides of said rotor and actuating means for displacing said friction pads into engagement with said opposite sides of said rotor, said friction pad including an elongate backing member and a friction lining applied to one face thereof for disposal in facing relationship with said rotor, said backing member of said friction pad including first connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said housing, said first connecting means having a connecting facility extending from an edge of said backing member, and said backing member further including second connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said anchor bracket, said first and second connecting means being such as to permit in use in said disc brake assembly first relative movement between a pair of said friction pads supported by said housing and second relative movement between said housing and said anchor bracket, and whereby said first and second connecting means of said friction pad combine in use to connect said housing to said anchor bracket.

In one form of the present invention, said backing member of each friction pad has first connecting means for connecting the friction pad to the housing, and second connecting means for connecting the friction pad to the anchor bracket. The first connecting means may comprise a single connecting facility, preferably located substantially intermediate each end of the backing member and preferably extending from an edge thereof. Alternatively, the first connecting means may comprise more than a single connecting facility, for example two such facilities. The second connecting means is preferably located at either end of the backing plate and preferably extends from the edge of either end. In this arrangement, the first connecting means may extend into connection with the section of the housing that bridges the peripheral edge of the rotor, while the second connecting means may engage side walls of the anchor bracket. This provides a particularly stable disc brake assembly, in which each of the friction pads is connected at three points. The connecting means can have any suitable form that permits the relative movement required. In one form, the first connecting means slidably interlocks with the housing in a manner that permits sliding movement of at least one of the friction pads relative to said housing toward or away from the rotor, but which otherwise secures the friction pad against release therefrom. The other friction pad may be secured by the same means, but that pad may not in use, be required to slide relative to the housing. Rather, that pad may be brought into braking engagement with a respective side of the rotor, by relative movement between the housing and the anchor bracket. The above connecting means may be formed by a variety of arrangements, such as by a channel formed in the housing which slidably accepts a complementary member extending from the friction pad. In this arrangement, the channel and the complementary member may both be formed as generally T-shaped to interlock and prevent release of the member from the channel other than in the direction of sliding.

In an alternative preferred arrangement, the housing includes a slide bar which is received through an opening in at least a first of the friction pads and that pad is slidable along the slide bar under brake actuation. The slide bar is preferably releasably connected to the housing, so that removal of the slide bar facilitates removal of the friction pad, such as for replacement. For this arrangement, the slide bar, may be formed as or similar to a bolt, including a d vable head at one end of a threaded shank and the bar may extend through one or more openings in the housing, one opening of which is threaded, to threadably engage the shank. The shank is preferably threaded only for the portion thereof that threadably engages the housing and that may be only the portion of the shank adjacent the head or the opposite end portion of the shank. The shank otherwise is unthreaded and is preferably smooth, to permit the friction pad to slide thereon with minimum resistance.

Connecting means of the above kind may be provided in any suitable position within the housing. For example, a single slide bar may be positioned substantially centrally of the housing to bridge the rotor. Alternatively, two or more such slide bars may be positioned between the radial ends of the housing. As discussed, accommodation of the or each slide bar may be by any suitable arrangement, such as by forming the housing to include a pair of openings to receive each end of the bar. One opening may include a seat extending thereabout for the head of the bar to seat against, while either of the other openings may be threaded to threadably receive the threaded shank of the bar. Alternatively, the other opening may include a seat for a nut into which the threaded end of the bar is secured.

In one arrangement, the housing includes a channel in the section bridging the rotor, and the slide bar is fixed within or adjacent the channel. The openings for locating the slide bar can be formed in the wall at either end of the channel.

The second connecting means can interlock with the anchor bracket although in one preferred arrangement, the connection is a sliding abutment connection. This is achieved in one particular form by a male/female mating channel arrangement, in which channels are formed in wall sections of the anchor bracket for sliding abutment connection with male shaped edge sections of the friction pad. These channels can, for example, be generally U-shaped, with the edge sections of the friction pad having a complimentary shape for snug receipt therein. Of course, the receipt of the edge sections within the channels must permit sliding movement of the friction pad therewithin.

In a preferred arrangement, one of the friction pads is movable in relation only to the anchor bracket. This is a normal operation for a disc brake, in which a first friction pad is actuated by the actuating means to move relative to the housing and the anchor bracket and into engagement with one side of the rotor, while the second friction pad remains stationary relative to the housing under brake actuation, but moves with the housing into engagement with the other side of the rotor upon relative movement between the housing and the anchor bracket. The second friction pad therefore may be secured in place in the disc brake assembly in a different manner to that of the first friction pad and in one arrangement, the second friction pad can be secured for movement relative to the anchor bracket only. This arrangement can be achieved in the present invention despite the preference that the first and second friction pads be identical, so that friction pad manufacture can be simplified to one style only, or one style for a particular style of pad-guided disc brake assembly. Therefore, with that consideration in mind, the first and second friction pads can each include first and second connecting means for connection to both the housing and the anchor bracket, even though the second friction pad has different movement requirements compared to the first friction pad.

The disc brake assembly may include biasing means for biasing one or both of the friction pads into secure connection with the housing and/or the anchor bracket. In one arrangement, the biasing means acts in opposite directions on the respective friction pads to bias the pads respectively upwardly and downwardly. This arrangement advantageously permits a single biasing member to engage each of the friction pads. The biasing member may be of plate form and may be secured to the housing on one side thereof and extend across the bridging section of the housing to the other side imposing a biasing influence in different directions on each friction pad. The biasing member may be anchored to the housing by a suitable anchor and the distal end of the member may be fixed to one of the friction pads. In a preferred arrangement, the biasing member is anchored to the housing by a releasable slide bar and imposes a biasing influence on the friction pad close to the anchor point away from the bridging section of the housing, and on the friction pad remote from the anchor point toward the bridging section.

The biasing means urges the friction pads into firm engagement with the connecting portions of the housing and the anchor bracket, so as to prevent undesirable movement of the pads, in particular rattling movement that may create noise during travel of the vehicle. The biasing means may be accommodated within a channel in the housing as heretofore described and may act on the connecting means portion of the friction pads and those portions may be formed with suitable surfaces to facilitate this. For example, the friction pad connecting means portion may include a bearing surface against which the biasing member applies a downward bias on a first of the friction pads, while the second of the friction pads includes arms having an undersurface into engagement with which the biasing member extends and applies an upward bias. The latter may include a pair of oppositely extending arms and the distal end of the biasing member may be bifurcated to engage under each of these.

Biasing means may also be provided to bias the second connecting means between the friction pads and the anchor bracket. Such biasing means preferably acts against the edge of the backing member although other arrangements are also possible. This biasing means further secures the friction pads relative to the anchor bracket principally to prevent rattling movement.

A significant feature of a disc brake assembly according to the invention is that there is no requirement for direct connection between the housing and the anchor bracket. Thus, there is no interaction between the housing and the anchor bracket that can detract from brake performance, while the absence of pin guides means that the requirements for pin lubrication and maintenance are eliminated. Moreover, the number of component parts of the disc brake assembly is reduced with a consequent reduction in the cost of the assembly. The attached drawings show an example embodiment of the invention of the foregoing kind. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of a prior art caliper. Figure 2 shows a plan view of a disc brake assembly according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of Figure 2 through III. Figure 4 is a rear view of a friction pad for use in the assembly of Figures 2 and 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a biasing arrangement.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further biasing arrangement in relation to the friction pad shown in Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows the general shape of a prior art caliper 10 of the pin guided kind, and that caliper includes a housing 11 and an anchor bracket 12. The housing 1 1 is movable relative to the anchor bracket 12 during brake actuation. In the Figure 1 caliper the housing 11 includes three fingers 13 which depend substantially perpendicular from a bridge section 14 thereof, that depends from a piston mounting section 15. The piston mounting section 15 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the fingers 13. The piston mounting section 15 includes a pair of pins on which the anchor bracket 12 is mounted for relative movement in the direction A. While the pins cannot be seen in Figure 1 due to their accommodation within the housing 11 and the anchor bracket 12, they extend coaxially within openings formed in the arms 16 of the piston mounting section 15 and are fixed thereto by a head and nut arrangement 17, 18 and they further extend slidingly into openings in the anchor bracket 12. That arrangement is only shown on one side of the caliper 10, but an identical arrangement at the other end 19 of the mounting section 15 is provided for the other of the two mounting shafts. The housing 11 is therefore directly connected to the anchor bracket by this arrangement.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a disc brake assembly 100 according to the invention, while Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly 100 of Figure 2. The brake assembly 100 is shown in Figure 3 in multi-planar cross- section through each of first and second (front and rear) friction pads 101 and 102. The change in plane takes place through the centreline C. The pad 101 includes a backing member 103 and a friction material 104, attached to the front of the backing member while the pad 102 is shown from the rear thereof and therefore only the rear of the backing member 105 is visible. It is to be appreciated however, that a friction material is also attached to the front of the backing member 105.

The anchor bracket 107 includes a base portion 108 and a pair of side portions 109 that extend upwardly and away from the base portion and the base portion includes a pair of openings 110 for receiving bolts (not shown) for attaching the anchor bracket 107 to a vehicle.

The housing 106 and the anchor bracket 107 are generally formed as shown in Figure 1 , although without the pin arrangement of that figure. The disc brake assembly 100 of Figures 1 and 2 departs from the assembly 10 of Figure 1 , by it being a friction pad guided assembly. The friction pad guided assembly 100 includes a slide bar 111 that is in the form of a bolt, having a bolt head 112 and a threaded portion 113. The threaded portion 113 threadably engages within a threaded opening in the housing 106 to secure the slide bar 111 in place, while the end of the bar opposite the head 112 extends through an unthreaded opening that is also formed in the housing. The arrangement is such that the bar 111 extends from one side of the housing 106 to the other side as shown in Figure 2. The bar 111 is generally accommodated in an elongate opening 114 formed in the housing 106, with each end of the opening 114 being arranged to accommodate the slide bar 111 as described above.

The friction pads 101 , 102 are formed in an identical manner and a non- sectioned rear view is shown in Figure 4. Each friction pad 101 , 102 includes first connecting means 115 that projects from an upper edge 116 of the backing member 105 and that connecting means includes an opening 117 for receiving the slide bar 111. On receipt of the slide bar 111 through the opening 117, and upon threadably fixing the slide bar in the housing 106, the friction pads 101 , 102 are restricted only to sliding movement along the longitudinal axis of the bar and if unrestrained, to rocking movement about that axis. The backing member of each friction pad also includes second connecting means 118 at opposite side edges thereof, which comprise extension members 119, which are arranged for receipt within channels 120 formed in each side portion 109 of the anchor bracket 107. By this unique engagement, there is no requirement for direct connection between the housing 106 and the anchor bracket 107. Instead, by connecting the friction pads 101 , 102 to the housing 106 via the slide bar 111 , and to the anchor bracket 107 via the extension members 119, the housing 106 and the anchor bracket 107 are indirectly fixed together.

The friction pads 101 , 102 are mounted within the housing 106, with the pad 101 mounted for actuation by suitable actuation means and the pad 102 mounted against the internal surface of the fingers 13 substantially in accordance with the prior art arrangement of Figure 1. In use, actuation of the actuation means causes a shift in the position of the friction pad 101 toward the braking surface of a rotor. The actuating means can comprise hydraulically operated pistons and two such pistons are provided in the example embodiment at 121 (Figure 3). The pistons act on the rear sur ace of the friction pad 102 and shift the pad relative to the housing. To minimise resistance to shifting movement, the upper edge 116 of the pad 102, is spaced from contact with the housing. Figure 3 shows gap G illustrating the spacing between the edge 116 and the housing 106.

The friction pad 102 does not move relative to the housing 106 during brake actuation. Rather, the pad 102 moves with the housing when the housing moves relative to the anchor bracket 107. Thus, the upper edge 116 of the pad 102 sits against the surface 122 of the housing adjacent the fingers 13 by way of the raised edge 123 of the pad 102 engaging the surface 122. By this engagement, the housing 106 is restrained from rocking about the axis of the slide bar 111. Biasing means may be employed to bias the friction pads 101 , 102 into position and to prevent or minimise undesirable movement, such as may be permitted by a loose fit of the slide bar 111 in the opening 117, or the extension members 119 in the channels 120. In Figures 2 and 3, biasing means are applied to each of the first and second connecting means 115 and 118. Referring to the biasing means applied to the first connecting means 115, a spring plate 124 extends across the housing 106 and is anchored at one end by the slide bar head 112 and at the other end, against the undersurface 125 of the arms 126 of the first connecting means 115. The spring plate 124 is shown in side cross-sectional view in Figure 5, and it can be seen from this figure, that it extends within the opening 114 of the housing 106 and includes an opening 127 through which the slide bar 111 extends, for anchoring the plate 124 to the housing 106. The spring plate 124 extends across each of the friction pads 101 , 102 and bears against each of these pads in opposite directions. The plate 124 bears against the upper edge 128 (Figure 4) of the friction pad 101 , biasing the pad 101 in a downward direction to maintain the gap G.

The spring plate 124 is bifurcated adjacent the friction plate 102 as shown in Figure 2, to define a pair of fingers 129 and these fingers engage the undersurface 125 of the arms 126 of the friction plate 102. Consequently, the spring plate 124 exerts an upward biasing force on the pad 102. That biasing forces promotes firm engagement of the raised edges 123 (Figure 4) against the surface 122 (Figure 3) of the housing 106.

Biasing means are also provided at the second connecting means 118 and as shown in Figure 3, these biasing means act principally against the lower edge 130 (see also Figure 4) of each of the friction pads 101 , 102. The biasing means includes a spring arrangement in which a spring 131 applies an upwardly directed force on the lower edge 130. That spring force restrains the friction pads 101 , 102 against rocking movement and therefore against rattling movement that could otherwise make the brake assembly noisy.

A spring 131 is secured in each of the anchor bracket channels 120 and extends the full lengthwise extent of each channel. The springs 131 are secured in relation to each channel, by tabs 132. The springs 131 as shown, have a secondary function in that they provide a smooth surface for sliding movement of each of the friction pads 101 , 102 upon brake actuation and the resulting relative movement of the housing 106 and the anchor bracket 107. Thus the springs extend between the points S_T and S₂ as shown, entering into the channels 120 and extending upwardly toward the housing 106. Thus, by the provision of the springs 131 as shown, the surface finish of the anchor bracket 107 in the region of the springs 131 can be left rough, such as in an as cast condition, because the friction pads 101 , 102 slide against the smooth surface of the spring plate instead of the surface of the anchor bracket.

The disc brake assembly 100 according to the invention can further include an arrangement to prevent lateral movement of the inboard friction pad relative to the slide bar on which it is mounted. Such lateral movement generally is prone to occur when the caliper is installed and the friction pads are disposed lengthwise substantially vertically. Under the effect of gravity, the housing tends to shift downwardly to rest on the lower surface of the slide bar. That shift can cause alignment problems with the rotor, affecting performance of the disc brake. Figures 6 and 7 show two alternative arrangements that could be adopted to prevent such relative movement, although these are examples only and other alternative arrangements could also be adopted.

Figures 6 and 7 show part sectional views of a friction pad of the same kind as that are shown in Figure 4. Consequently the same reference numerals are employed for the same parts. The lateral movement desired to be prevented by the arrangement of Figures 6 and 7, is movement equivalent to the clearance between the bar 111 and the opening 117 of the friction pad. In Figure 6, the spring plate 124 is formed to have a central crest 133 and a pair of troughs 134 disposed on opposite sides of the crest. The underneath surface of the spring plate 124 thus engages the upper inclined faces of the arms 126 of the first connecting means 115 in a manner that locates the first connecting means and thus the friction pad, against lateral movement relative to the bar 111. The spring plate 124 may be formed to have the configuration shown in Figure 6 for its full length, or it may be formed as shown only in the region of its engagement with the first connecting means 115.

In the Figure 7 arrangement, the opening 117 is formed to be part circular 135 and part triangular 136 and with the spring plate 124 biasing the first connecting means 115 down onto the bar 111 , the bar 111 is biased into engagement with the internal faces of the triangular part 136. The bar 111 is therefore essentially wedged in place against lateral movement within the opening 117.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A disc brake assembly, including a disc brake rotor and a disc brake caliper, said disc brake caliper having a housing arranged to straddle the edge periphery of said rotor, an anchor bracket for attaching said caliper to a vehicle, said housing supporting a pair of friction pads disposed on opposite sides of said rotor with each said friction pad including an elongate backing member and a friction lining applied to one face thereof and disposed in facing relationship with said rotor, actuating means for displacing said friction pads into engagement with said opposite sides of said rotor, said backing member of each said friction pad including first connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said housing, said first connecting means having a connecting facility extending from an edge of said backing member, and second connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said anchor bracket, said first and second connecting means being such as to permit first relative movement between said pair of friction pads and second relative movement between said housing and said anchor bracket, and whereby said first and second connecting means combine to connect said housing to said anchor bracket.

2. A disc brake assembly according to claim 1 , said connecting facility being disposed substantially intermediate opposite ends of said backing member.

3. A disc brake assembly according to claims 2, said housing including a bridging section which bridges said rotor and said first connecting means being connected to said bridge section.

4. A disc brake assembly according to claim 3, said first connecting means interlocking with said housing to permit sliding movement of at least one of said friction pads relative to said housing toward or away from engagement with said rotor.

5. A disc brake assembly according to claim 4, said housing including a channel for receipt of a connecting member forming part of said first connecting means of at least one of said friction pads, which connecting member is slidably secured within said channel permitting sliding movement of said at least one friction pad but otherwise securing said at least one friction pad to said housing.

6. A disc brake assembly according to claim 5, said connecting member being generally T-shaped.

7. A disc brake assembly according to claim 4, said housing including at least one slide bar and said first connecting means of at least one of said friction pads including an opening for receipt of said at least one slide bar to permit sliding movement of said at least one friction pad therealong.

8. A disc brake assembly according to claim 7, said at least one slide bar including a threaded section for threadable connection with said housing and a non-threaded section on which said friction pad is slidably mounted.

9. A disc brake assembly according to claim 8, said housing including a pair of openings for each of said at least one slide bar, one of said pair of openings being threaded for threaded receipt of said threaded section of said at least one slide bar.

10. A disc brake assembly according to claim 9, said housing including a channel within which said at least one slide bar is fixed by securing the ends of said slide bar in openings formed at each end of said channel.

11. A disc brake assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said second connecting means being disposed at opposite ends of said backing member and extending into connection with opposite side walls of said anchor bracket.

12. A disc brake assembly according to claim 11 , said second connecting means including a projection extending from the edge of said opposite ends of said backing member, each said projection being arranged for receipt within a respective channel formed in said opposite side walls of said anchor bracket, each said respective channel having a length dimension at least equal to the required travel of the respective friction pad.

13. A disc brake assembly according to claim 12, a single channel being provided in each of said opposite side walls of said anchor bracket for accommodating each said projection of each of said pair of friction pads.

14. A disc brake assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further including biasing means acting against one or each of said friction pads for biasing one or each of said friction pads respectively into secure connection with said housing and/or said anchor bracket.

15. A disc brake assembly according to claim 14, said biasing means acting in opposite directions on said friction pads.

16. A disc brake assembly according to claim 15, said biasing means including a spring plate secured to said housing at one end and bearing against one of said friction pads, and extending across said rotor to bear in an opposite direction against the other of said friction pads.

17. A disc brake assembly according to claim 16, said spring plate acting on an outer bearing surface of said first connecting means of a first of said friction pads adjacent said secured end of said spring plate and acting on an under surface of said first connecting means of the second of said friction pads.

18. A disc brake assembly according to claim 17, said spring pate being bifurcated at the end opposite said secured end and engaging said first connecting means of said second of said friction pads symmetrically about a centre line through said first connecting means.

19. A disc brake assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 18, said biasing means further applying a biasing influence to bias said second connecting means into secure engagement with said anchor bracket.

20. A disc brake assembly according to claim 19, said biasing means including a biasing plate interposed between said second connecting means and said anchor bracket, and said plate extending into engagement with an edge of said friction pad spaced from said second connection means to apply said biasing influence.

21. A disc brake assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 20 when dependent on any one of claims 7 to 10, said opening of said first connecting means including a convergent section into which said slide bar is partly accepted and said slide bar being retained within said convergent section under the biasing influence of said biasing means, said arrangement being such as to locate said friction pad against lateral movement.

22. A disc brake assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 20 when dependent on any one of claims 7 to 10, said first connecting means including a pair of downwardly inclined faces spaced on either side of said opening and said biasing means acting on each of said inclined faces, causing said slide bar to engage against the internal surface of said opening, said biasing means exerting sufficient biasing influence to maintain said slide bar engaged against said internal surface of said opening to locate said friction pad against lateral movement.

23. A friction pad for use in a disc brake assembly of the kind in which the disc brake assembly includes a disc brake rotor and a disc brake caliper, said disc brake caliper having a housing arranged to straddle the edge periphery of said rotor and an anchor bracket for attaching said caliper to a vehicle, said housing being arranged for supporting a pair said friction pads disposed on opposite sides of said rotor and actuating means for displacing said friction pads into engagement with said opposite sides of said rotor, said friction pad including an elongate backing member and a friction lining applied to one face thereof for disposal in facing relationship with said rotor, said backing member of said friction pad including first connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said housing, said first connecting means having a connecting facility extending from an edge of said backing member, and said backing member further including second connecting means for connecting said friction pad to said anchor bracket, said first and second connecting means being such as to permit in use in said disc brake assembly first relative movement between a pair of said friction pads supported by said housing and second relative movement between said housing and said anchor bracket, and whereby said first and second connecting means of said friction pad combine in use to connect said housing to said anchor bracket.

24. A friction pad according to claim 23, said connecting facility being disposed substantially intermediate opposite ends of said backing member.

25. A friction pad according to claim 24, said connecting member being generally T-shaped.

26. A friction pad according to any one of claims 23 to 25, said second connecting means being disposed at opposite ends of said backing member and extending in use, into connection with opposite side walls of said anchor bracket.

27. A friction pad according to claim 26, said second connecting means including a projection extending from the edge of said opposite ends of said backing member, each said projection being arranged for receipt within a respective channel formed in said opposite side walls of said anchor bracket.