The subject invention generally relates to a disc brake pad which has reduced brake squeal in response to a braking event by the incorporation of a relieved portion to the center section of a friction pad along an outer edge or inner edge thereof, or along both edges. The invention is a disc brake pad which includes a backing plate and friction pad attached to the backing plate.
1. A disc brake pad, comprising:
a backing plate;
a friction pad attached to said backing plate, said friction pad having an outer edge, an inner edge and a friction surface;
said friction pad including a transverse slot extending between said inner and outer edges and having a depth of less than the thickness of said friction pad, said friction pad having a pair of relieved portions located along a center section of said outer edge and inner edges, and wherein said relieved portion along said outer edge is spaced from said relieved portion along said inner edge; and
wherein said relieved portion along said outer edge comprises a pair of outer chamfered surfaces declining inwardly to said transverse slot and toward said outer edge and wherein said relieved portion along said inner edge comprises a pair of inner chamfered surfaces declining inwardly to said transverse slot and toward said inner edge.
2. The disc brake pad of claim 1 , wherein each of said relieved portions comprises a V-shaped chamfer.
3. The disc brake pad of claim 1 , wherein said chamfered surfaces are one of a flat surface or a curved surface.
4. The disc brake pad of claim 1 , wherein said chamfered surfaces are substantially mirror images of one another about a transverse axis.
5. The disc brake pad of claim 1 , wherein said relieved portion comprises a notch.
6. The disc brake pad of claim 5 , wherein said notch has a generally V-shaped cross-section.
7. The disc brake pad of claim 1 , further comprising an end chamfer located on at least one of a first end or a second end of said friction pad.
8. The disc brake pad of claim 7 , wherein said friction pad has an end chamfer on both of said first end and said second end.
9. The disc brake pad of claim 8 , wherein said end chamfers on both of said first end and said second end are one of a parallel chamfer, a radial chamfer or a diamond chamfer.
10. The disc brake pad of claim 1 wherein said inner chamfered surfaces are mirror images of said outer chamfered surfaces.
11. A disc brake pad, comprising:
a backing plate;
a friction pad attached to the backing plate, said friction pad having an outer edge, an inner edge, a transverse slot and a friction surface;
said friction pad having a relieved portion located along a center section of said outer and inner edges, said transverse slot having a depth of less than the thickness of said friction pad and intersecting said relieved portions;
wherein said relieved portion along said outer edge is spaced from said relieved portion along said inner edge; and
wherein said relieved portion along said outer edge comprises a pair of outer chamfered surfaces declining inwardly to said transverse slot and toward said outer edge and wherein said relieved portion along said inner edge comprises a pair of inner chamfered surfaces declining inwardly to said transverse slot and toward said inner edge.
12. The disc brake pad of claim 11 , wherein each of said relieved portions comprises a V-shaped chamfer.
13. The disc brake pad of claim 12 , wherein said chamfered surfaces are one of a flat surface or a curved surface.
14. The disc brake pad of claim 12 , wherein said chamfered surfaces are substantially mirror images of one another about a transverse axis.
15. The disc brake pad of claim 11 , wherein said relieved portion comprises a notch.
16. The disc brake pad of claim 15 , wherein said notch has a generally V-shaped cross-section.
17. The disc brake pad of claim 11 , further comprising an end chamfer located on at least one of a first end or a second end of said friction pad.
18. The disc brake pad of claim 17 , wherein said friction pad has an end chamfer on both of said first end and said second end.
19. The disc brake pad of claim 18 , wherein said end chamfers on both of said first end and said second end are one of a parallel chamfer, a radial chamfer or a diamond chamfer.
20. The disc brake pad of claim 11 wherein said inner chamfered surfaces are mirror images of said outer chamfered surfaces.