Disc brake assembly

1. A disc brake assembly arranged to be mounted over a rotor, the disc brake assembly comprising:

first and second brake pads;

a caliper having an opening for receiving the first and second brake pads;

a cover for closing the opening; and

a spacer for maintaining a minimum distance between the first and second brake pads, wherein the cover includes an opening pattern arranged to allow the spacer to be inserted and removed therethrough.

2. The disc brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the opening pattern includes a first hole that is substantially H shaped, wherein elongate sides of the first hole are aligned substantially transverse to the first and second brake pads.

3. The disc brake assembly of claim 2 wherein the opening pattern further includes a second hole that is substantially the same as the first hole.

4. The disc brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover is made from a sheet material and an edge of the opening pattern is folded to form a guide surface for the spacer.

5. The disc brake assembly of claim 2 wherein the cover further includes a passage through which the rotor can be viewed during installation of the disc brake assembly over the rotor, wherein the passage is separate from the opening pattern.

6. The disc brake assembly of claim 5 wherein the passage is situated between adjacent ends of the elongate sides of the first hole.

7. The disc brake assembly of claim 1 further including a pad strap to secure the first and second brake pads in the caliper, wherein the cover is permanently attached to the pad strap by welding.

8. The disc brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the spacer has an end arranged to engage with the rotor upon installation of the disc brake assembly over the rotor and the end of the spacer comprises a tab arranged to engage with an opening provided in the rotor.

9. The disc brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the spacer has a substantially H shaped cross section and/or wherein the spacer includes an abutment surface arranged to abut the cover to prevent the spacer from passing through the cover and/or wherein the spacer includes a tapered portion for separating the first and second brake pads, and/or wherein the disc brake assembly further includes a carrier, the caliper being slidably mounted on the carrier, wherein the spacer is arranged to align the carrier in a correct working position relative to the caliper.

10. A method of mounting a disc brake assembly about a rotor comprising the steps of:

a) providing a disc brake assembly including first and second brake pads, a caliper having an opening for receiving the first and second brake pads, and a cover for closing the opening, the cover including an opening pattern;

b) providing a spacer;

c) inserting the spacer through the opening pattern and between the first and second brake pads to provide a minimum distance between the first and second brake pads;

d) providing the rotor;

e) moving the disc brake assembly and the spacer to an interim position such that a gap between the first and second brake pads is in a plane defined by the rotor; and

f) moving the disc brake assembly radially relative to the rotor to a working position and removing the spacer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step b) includes providing the spacer with a tapered end and step c) includes inserting the tapered end of the spacer through the opening pattern such that the tapered end moves the first and second brake pads apart to the minimum distance.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step a) includes providing a passage in the cover, and during step e) the rotor is viewed through the passage so as to align the gap with the plane defined by the rotor.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the spacer is removed by being ejected as a result of engagement between the spacer and the rotor as the disc brake assembly is moved radially relative to the rotor to the working position.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step b) includes providing a tab at an end of the spacer, step d) includes providing the rotor with an opening at a circumferential edge of the rotor and step f) includes engaging the tab with the opening as the disc brake assembly is moved radially relative to the rotor to the working position.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein step a) includes providing a carrier with the disc brake assembly, the caliper being slideably mounted on the carrier, and step c) further aligns the carrier in the working position relative to the caliper.