A slack adjuster and systems, components, and methods can comprise a base enclosure, a pair of floating piston assemblies, and a pair of sensing piston assemblies. The base enclosure can define an internal chamber that extends along a longitudinal axis of the base enclosure and an inlet channel that extends along a transverse axis of the base enclosure perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The internal chamber can have a first chamber portion, a second chamber portion, and a center chamber portion that intersects the inlet channel. The floating piston assemblies can be respectively provided in the first and second chamber portions. Likewise, the sensing piston assemblies can be respectively provided in association with the floating piston assemblies.

A braking system for a vehicle includes a processing circuit, a pad position detector, a pressure sensor, a pad positioner and a pressure combiner. The pressure sensor and the pad positioner are adapted to determine a thickness of a friction material of a pad of the braking system. The pad position detector is adapted to detect the position between the pad and a rotor of the braking system. The pad positioner and the pressure combiner are adapted to determine a desired position between the pad and the rotor to provide a desired braking response time and a desired amount of drag.

A braking system for a vehicle includes a processing circuit, a pad position detector, a pressure sensor, a pad positioner and a pressure combiner. The pressure sensor and the pad positioner are adapted to determine a thickness of a friction material of a pad of the braking system. The pad position detector is adapted to detect the position between the pad and a rotor of the braking system. The pad positioner and the pressure combiner are adapted to determine a desired position between the pad and the rotor to provide a desired braking response time and a desired amount of drag.

An electric motor-driven brake apparatus has speed reduction mechanisms transmitting rotational force of an electric motor, a ball screw mechanism converting rotational force of the speed reduction mechanisms into a thrust, a piston propelled by the ball screw mechanism, and a caliper movably supporting the piston. The ball screw mechanism has a base nut non-rotatably supported relative to the caliper. The ball screw mechanism further has a push rod receiving rotational force from the speed reduction mechanisms. The push rod is movable relative to the base nut in the axial direction of the push rod. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the axial length of the cylinder portion of the caliper body, and hence possible to attain a size reduction. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the mountability of the electric motor-driven brake apparatus 1 onto vehicles.

A hydraulic brake wear detection apparatus and a method for detecting a degree of pad wear of a brake pad of a hydraulic brake includes a caliper piston located at least partially within a caliper cavity and attached to the brake pad. The caliper piston includes a piston cavity extending from a caliper piston rim into a caliper piston body at a location longitudinally opposite, and spaced from, the brake pad. An internal piston is located at least partially within the piston cavity and is entirely enclosed in an internal space defined cooperatively by the piston cavity and the caliper cavity for reciprocal longitudinal motion with respect to the internal space. The internal piston is reciprocated by a predetermined volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid responsive to wear of the brake pad.

A hydraulic brake wear detection apparatus and a method for detecting a degree of pad wear of a brake pad of a hydraulic brake includes a caliper piston located at least partially within a caliper cavity and attached to the brake pad. The caliper piston includes a piston cavity extending from a caliper piston rim into a caliper piston body at a location longitudinally opposite, and spaced from, the brake pad. An internal piston is located at least partially within the piston cavity and is entirely enclosed in an internal space defined cooperatively by the piston cavity and the caliper cavity for reciprocal longitudinal motion with respect to the internal space. The internal piston is reciprocated by a predetermined volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid responsive to wear of the brake pad.

A brake assembly includes a housing, a brake element configured to be operatively associated with an axle for resisting rotation of the axle, and a piston configured to be selectively moved into and out of braking engagement with the brake element. The brake assembly further includes a slack adjustment mechanism for limiting movement of the piston when the piston is moved out of braking engagement with the brake element. The slack adjustment mechanism includes a shuttle configured to be engaged by the piston, and a plurality of stop elements carried by the shuttle and configured to be moved off the shuttle into a well of the housing. Movement of the piston is stopped when the shuttle engages an end wall of the well or one of the stop elements in the well.

A brake assembly includes a housing, a brake element configured to be operatively associated with an axle for resisting rotation of the axle, and a piston configured to be selectively moved into and out of braking engagement with the brake element. The brake assembly further includes a slack adjustment mechanism for limiting movement of the piston when the piston is moved out of braking engagement with the brake element. The slack adjustment mechanism includes a shuttle configured to be engaged by the piston, and a plurality of stop elements carried by the shuttle and configured to be moved off the shuttle into a well of the housing. Movement of the piston is stopped when the shuttle engages an end wall of the well or one of the stop elements in the well.

A brake caliper includes a caliper housing having a first cavity. A sleeve is disposed in the first cavity. The sleeve is reciprocally slidable relative to the caliper housing along an axial direction. The sleeve includes a second cavity. A piston is disposed in the second cavity. The piston is reciprocally slidable relative to the sleeve along the axial direction. A first seal is disposed between the sleeve and the caliper housing. A second seal is disposed between the piston and the sleeve.

A brake caliper includes a caliper housing having a first cavity. A sleeve is disposed in the first cavity. The sleeve is reciprocally slidable relative to the caliper housing along an axial direction. The sleeve includes a second cavity. A piston is disposed in the second cavity. The piston is reciprocally slidable relative to the sleeve along the axial direction. A first seal is disposed between the sleeve and the caliper housing. A second seal is disposed between the piston and the sleeve.