The present teachings provide a method comprising steps of: forming an integral brake caliper body and support bracket that comprises a caliper body and a support bracket; and separating the caliper body from the support bracket.

An x-joint configured to transfer rotational movement from a first shaft to a second shaft at an angle and method of manufacturing the same.

A clutch assembly for a toy includes a clutch disc member and an inserting member. The clutch disc member includes a central opening and a plurality of seats distributed in a circular pattern. The inserting member includes a plurality of wedges distributed in a circular pattern. The seats and the wedges are designed to (A) engage the wedges in the seats when a force exerted between a driving element operably connected to the clutch disc member and a driven element operably connected to the inserting member is less than a predetermined force level, and (B) automatically disengage the wedges from the seats when the force exerted exceeds the predetermined force level, and (C) re-engage again when the excessive force is released so as to fall below the predetermined force level after slippage of the wedges out of the seats.

In one aspect, a wheel hub apparatus including a wheel hub that is rotatable about a central axis and has a unitary, one-piece construction. The wheel hub apparatus further includes a circular brake element having a unitary, one-piece construction and extending about the wheel hub. The wheel hub and the circular brake element include engaged portions securing the wheel hub and the circular brake element together. The engaged portions of the wheel hub and the circular brake element fix the circular brake element against axial movement along the wheel hub. In this manner, the engaged portions of the wheel hub and the circular brake element provide a mechanical joint that connects the wheel hub and the circular brake element using the material of the wheel hub and the circular brake element.

Disclosed are a brake disk and a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, the brake disk may include a friction surface formed of cast iron, and the friction surface of the brake disk is divided into a plurality of sections in a circumferential direction. Preferably, an average of the numbers per unit area of eutectic cells formed on surfaces of the sections may not be greater than 300 ea/cm.sup.2.

A hydraulic fluid pressure operated torque transmitting assembly for use as a brake or clutch which utilizes hydraulic pressure operated cylinders in a housing moveable with respect to an axially stationary spring housing to move a pressure plate against rotating discs and reaction plates. Hydraulic fluid pressure disengages the torque transmission and loss of hydraulic pressure enables springs in the spring housing to move the pressure plate to engage the friction discs for torque transmission. Radially removable spacers permit the spring housing position on mounting studs to be adjusted for compensating for friction disc wear. The hydraulic cylinders each have a drain port communicating with an annular collector groove in the cylinder bore. The drain ports are interconnected through flexible conduits connected to a master drain port in the cylinder housing.

An injection apparatus to mold a combined member with excellent performance to a constant-velocity joint boot to seal constant-velocity universal joints. The constant-velocity universal joints are used for smooth operation of a drive shaft which transfers driving power from a differential gear of a vehicle to a hub on which a tire is mounted. An injection method of the combined member of the constant-velocity joint boot. A constant-velocity joint boot manufactured by the injection method of the combined member.

A method for manufacturing a brake pad preform for disc brakes is provided. The method involves preparing a thermosetting mixture by mixing a polymer resin in liquid form or particle powder form and ceramic particles in powder form, combining the thermosetting mixture with a carbonaceous material composed of carbon fibers to obtain a molding compound, molding the molding compound by compaction and heat treatment to obtain a crude preform, and subjecting the crude preform to a pyrolysis treatment to obtain the brake pad preform. A brake pad preform or a brake pad obtained by the manufacturing method is composed of a carbon-carbon composite composed of a matrix of carbonaceous material and carbon fibers in which the ceramic particles are uniformly dispersed in the matrix of carbonaceous material.

A brake disc for a high performance vehicle comprises a rotor 20 formed of grey cast iron and comprising a friction ring 24 annular about an axis of rotation 26 and, coaxial with the friction ring 24, a tubular flange 28 extending axially from the friction ring 24 to a free end 28a and having a wall 28e with a radially inner face 28c and a radially outer face 28d. A hub 22 formed of aluminium is cast over the flange 28 to encapsulate at least a portion of the wall 28e, with which it has a shrink-fit connection. The encapsulated portion of the wall is made smooth (or otherwise formed with a varying radial dimension, or a screw thread) so as to permit differential thermal contraction, in an axial direction, of the hub 22 relative to the flange 28 as the hub 22 solidifies and cools after its casting. By this means, retained stresses in the hub 22 are minimised.

An anchor bracket for use in a disc brake assembly comprises first and second arms, first and second windows, and first and second rotor channels. The first arm has a first rotor notch and the second arm has a second rotor notch. The first window is cast in the first arm and the second window is cast in the second arm. The first rotor channel is machined from the first rotor notch to the first window and the second rotor channel is machined from the second rotor notch to the second window.