Brake caliper with reduced brake squeal

1. A product comprising:

a brake caliper comprising a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber, comprising a first piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the first chamber and comprising a second piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber, the brake caliper also comprising a brake pad with a leading end portion acted upon by the first piston and with a trailing end portion acted upon by the second piston;

a fluid passage leading to the first chamber; and

a valve located in the fluid passage and regulating fluid-flow to the first chamber so that the trailing end portion contacts a rotor before the leading end portion contacts the rotor

wherein the fluid passage is defined by a fluid line located outside of the housing and extending between the first and second chambers, and the valve is located outside of the housing.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a third and a fourth chamber located in the housing;

a third piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the third chamber, and a fourth piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the fourth chamber;

a second brake pad located in the housing and having a second leading end portion acted upon by the third piston and having a second trailing end portion acted upon by the fourth piston;

a second fluid passage leading to the third chamber; and

a second valve located in the second fluid passage and regulating fluid-flow to the third chamber so that the second trailing end portion contacts the rotor before the second leading end portion contacts the rotor.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a second fluid passage leading to the first chamber; and

a second valve located in the second fluid passage and regulating fluid-flow to the first chamber so that the trailing end portion contacts the rotor before the leading end portion contacts the rotor.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fluid inlet leading to the second chamber, and wherein fluid-flow flows through the fluid inlet, into the second chamber, into the fluid passage, through the valve, and into the first chamber.

5. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve is a check valve.

6. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve is a proportioning valve.

7. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the valve is an orifice valve.

8. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second piston acts on the brake pad before the first piston acts on the brake pad.

9. A product comprising:

a brake caliper comprising a housing with a first chamber, a second chamber, and a fluid inlet leading to the second chamber, comprising a first piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the first chamber and comprising a second piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber, the brake caliper also comprising a brake pad with a leading end portion acted upon by the first piston and with a trailing end portion acted upon by the second piston; and

a fluid passage extending between the first and second chambers;

the brake caliper being constructed and arranged so that when the brake caliper is activated fluid-flow flows through the fluid inlet, into the second chamber, through the fluid passage, and into the first chamber so that the trailing end portion contacts a rotor before the leading end portion contacts the rotor, wherein the first chamber receives fluid-flow to generate fluid pressure in the first chamber via only the fluid passage, wherein the valve is a check valve or proportioning valve.

10. A product as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a valve located in the fluid passage and regulating fluid-flow to the first chamber.

11. A product as set forth in claim 10 wherein the fluid passage is defined by a fluid line located outside of the housing and the valve is located outside of the housing.

12. A product as set forth in claim 10 wherein the valve is an orifice valve.

13. A product as set forth in claim 9 wherein, upon activation, the second piston acts on the brake pad before the first piston acts on the brake pad.

14. A product as set forth in claim 9 wherein the housing has a partition wall extending between the first and second chambers, and the fluid passage is defined in the partition wall.

15. A method comprising:

providing a brake caliper having a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber, having a first piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the first chamber and having a second piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber, a fluid passage extending between the first and second chambers, a check valve located in the fluid passage, the brake caliper also having a brake pad with a leading end portion acted upon by the first piston and with a trailing end portion acted upon by the second piston;

pressurizing the first and second chambers; and

regulating pressure to the first chamber via the check valve so that the trailing end portion contacts a rotor before the leading end portion contacts the rotor.

16. A product comprising:

a brake caliper comprising a housing with a first chamber, a second chamber, and a fluid inlet leading to the second chamber, comprising a first piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the first chamber and comprising a second piston moving in response to fluid pressure in the second chamber, the brake caliper also comprising a brake pad with a leading end portion acted upon by the first piston and with a trailing end portion acted upon by the second piston; and

a fluid passage extending between the first and second chambers;

the brake caliper being constructed and arranged so that when the brake caliper is activated fluid-flow flows through the fluid inlet, into the second chamber, through the fluid passage, and into the first chamber so that the trailing end portion contacts a rotor before the leading end portion contacts the rotor, wherein the first chamber receives fluid-flow to generate fluid pressure in the first chamber via only the fluid passage,

further comprising a valve located in the fluid passage and regulating fluid-flow to the first chamber,

wherein the fluid passage is defined by a fluid line located outside of the housing and the valve is located outside of the housing.