A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200 C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

A method in which at least one piezoceramic sensor, which converts every mechanical force to which it is subjected into an electrical signal and having a Curie temperature higher than 200 C., is solidarized directly onto the surface of a metal support element of a vehicle braking element, which during use faces a vehicle element to be braked. While in contact with such a surface, an electrical circuit is implemented that picks up and eventually processes the electrical signal, the electrical circuit being connected with a connector integrated with the metal support element. An electrically insulating layer sandwiches the at least one piezoceramic sensor and the electrical circuit, and a block of friction material with an underlying damping layer is formed upon the electrically insulating layer. After forming the block of friction material, the piezoceramic sensor is polarized by applying a predetermined potential difference thereto by means of the connector.

A brake disc made of fiber-reinforced material includes a braking band having a predetermined thickness. The method for making the brake discs includes setting up a winding mandrel and forming at least one layer of fibers having a predetermined width. The layer of fibers is impregnated with a binder resin. The impregnated layer is wound about the mandrel, forming a hollow cylindrical body having a predefined outer diameter and an inner diameter substantially equivalent to the mandrel diameter. The layer of fibers is wound about the mandrel in a winding direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the layer. The cylindrical body is heated to at least partly cross-link the binder resin and obtain a solid semi-finished cylindrical body. The cylindrical body is cut in slices transversely to the cylindrical body axis according to predetermined thicknesses. Each slice is a disc-shaped body defining the disc's braking band.

Provided is a friction material composition including: a binder; an organic filler; an inorganic filler; and a fiber substrate, in which a content of copper as an element is 0.5% by mass or less, the friction material composition contains at least one of phlogopite or biotite in a total of from 3% by mass to 9% by mass, and a graphite in an amount of from 2% by mass to 6% by mass, as the inorganic fillers, the at least one of phlogopite or biotite has an average particle size of from 340 m to 1,500 m, and the graphite has an average particle size of from 450 m to 1,100 m.

A shoe element for use in a drum brake includes a web segment and a support segment, wherein the support segment includes a spherical segment, the web segment includes a web-side engagement segment for interlocking engagement with a shoe web or is integrally formed with a shoe web, and wherein the web segment and the support segment are integrally formed with one another.

A friction plate for a wet multiplate clutch includes a carrier element and a friction lining. The friction lining is adhesively bonded to the carrier element, is formed of friction lining pieces, and includes at least four annular sectors. A first one of the at least four annular sectors has a first groove pattern. A second one of the at least four annular sectors has a second groove pattern, different than the first groove pattern.

A friction plate for a wet multiplate clutch includes a carrier element and a friction lining. The friction lining is adhesively bonded to the carrier element, is formed of friction lining pieces, and includes at least four annular sectors. A first one of the at least four annular sectors has a first groove pattern. A second one of the at least four annular sectors has a second groove pattern, different than the first groove pattern.

A method for forming a friction material. The method includes mixing a fibrous base material and filler particles to form a substrate. The method further includes saturating the substrate with a silane solution including a silane to form a uniformly impregnated silane matrix. The method also includes curing the uniformly impregnated silane matrix to form a cured uniformly impregnated silane matrix. The method also includes saturating the cured uniformly impregnated silane matrix with a phenolic resin solution to form a uniformly impregnated silane, phenolic resin matrix. The method also includes curing the uniformly impregnated silane, phenolic resin matrix to form the friction material.

A friction assembly for a brake system able to collect vapors resulting from the friction of a lining. The friction assembly for a disc brake system includes: a lining made of friction material, including a friction face, an attachment face opposite the friction face, and a collection groove that is open on the friction face; a sole plate, supporting the lining, including a hole; a negative pressure source configured to create negative pressure in the collection groove and the hole. The friction assembly includes a gas filtration device, in pneumatic communication with the collection groove and the hole, able to collect gases resulting from friction of the lining and coming from the collection groove.

A friction assembly for a brake system able to collect vapors resulting from the friction of a lining. The friction assembly for a disc brake system includes: a lining made of friction material, including a friction face, an attachment face opposite the friction face, and a collection groove that is open on the friction face; a sole plate, supporting the lining, including a hole; a negative pressure source configured to create negative pressure in the collection groove and the hole. The friction assembly includes a gas filtration device, in pneumatic communication with the collection groove and the hole, able to collect gases resulting from friction of the lining and coming from the collection groove.