A wheel assembly includes an inboard wheel portion having a rim and a disk. A radially inward surface of the rim and an inboard surface of the disk define a wheel well cavity configured to house a brake assembly. The wheel assembly also includes a torque bar (e.g., a torque bar of the brake assembly) mounted to the inboard wheel portion. Further, the wheel assembly includes a retainer coupled to the torque bar and disposed radially between the torque bar and the radially inward surface of the rim of the inboard wheel portion. The retainer includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body includes opposing longitudinal sides configured to respectively engage and retain a respective heat shield segment of a segmented annular heat shield.

A brake rotor, includes at least one friction element and one adapter element, wherein the brake rotor is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein the friction element has at least one friction surface and one connection region, wherein the adapter element has an installation region and a transfer region, wherein the installation region is configured for fixing the brake rotor to a hub, wherein the connection region indirectly or directly engages in positively locking fashion in a circumferential direction with the transfer region such that a torque about the axis of rotation can be transferred between the connection region and the transfer region from the friction element to the adapter element.

A hybrid torque tube for a brake assembly may comprise a tube portion having a centerline axis, and a conical back-leg portion extending from the tube portion. A stator spline may be formed on a radially outward surface of the tube portion. A foot may be formed on a radially inward surface of the tube portion. The tube portion is formed using a first manufacturing process and at least one of the conical back-leg, stator spline, or foot is formed using additive manufacturing.

A hybrid torque tube for a brake assembly may comprise a tube portion having a centerline axis, and a conical back-leg portion extending from the tube portion. A stator spline may be formed on a radially outward surface of the tube portion. A foot may be formed on a radially inward surface of the tube portion. The tube portion is formed using a first manufacturing process and at least one of the conical back-leg, stator spline, or foot is formed using additive manufacturing.

In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.

A torque tube for a brake assembly may include a tube portion having a first centerline axis, a conical back-leg portion extending from the tube portion in a radially outward angled orientation relative to the first centerline axis, and a lip portion disposed at a radially outward end of the conical back-leg portion. The lip portion may have added structural material to improve the structural properties of the torque tube to prevent or mitigate damage that would otherwise be caused by friction-induced vibrations.

An arrangement and method for mounting a brake disc to an axle hub of a vehicle is provided. The arrangement includes wedge-shaped holes at an radially inner region of the brake disc, corresponding wedge-shaped key inserts, a retaining device such as a retaining ring, and mounting devices such as bolts or studs and nuts that pass through the retaining ring and keys to bias the keys against the axle hub. The circumferential sides of the wedge shapes are aligned with radial lines extending from the rotation axis of the axle hub. This arrangement and method provides a simple, robust and easily installed brake disc mounting that minimizes heat transfer between the brake disc and the axle hub and accommodates thermal expansion of the brake disc and the axle hub to minimize thermal expansion-induced stresses to the brake disc.

A brake disk includes a friction ring, a brake disk hat and a securing ring. The friction ring has an inner side, on which a plurality of projections and intermediate spaces for connecting the friction ring to the brake disk hat are disposed. The brake disk hat has, on its outer side, intermediate spaces and projections which correspond with the projections and intermediate spaces of the friction ring and are shaped to engage in a positively locking manner into the projections and intermediate spaces of the friction ring, with the result that the friction ring is connected fixedly to the brake disk hat so as to rotate therewith. The securing ring secures the friction ring on the brake disk hat in the axial direction. The securing ring includes a number of spring elements which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the securing ring.

A floating disc brake assembly, and method of assembly, comprising a disc brake rotor comprising an outer friction ring, an inner circumferential flange having a plurality of rotor tabs spaced about the flange and a circumferential groove about the inner circumferential flange, a hat comprising a cylindrical axial body, an outer circumference, a rotor mounting flange extending radially about the outer circumference and having a plurality of rotor mounting tabs spaced about the rotor mounting flange and forming slots interspersed therebetween structured and arranged for receiving the rotor tabs, and a circumferential groove about the outer circumference of the axial body, structured and arranged to align with the circumferential groove of the disc brake rotor, and at least one expander ring structured and arranged to fit within the circumferential grooves of both the rotor and the hat.

A torque tube for a brake assembly may include a tube portion having a first centerline axis, a conical back-leg portion extending from the tube portion in a radially outward angled orientation relative to the first centerline axis, and a lip portion disposed at a radially outward end of the conical back-leg portion. The lip portion may have added structural material to improve the structural properties of the torque tube to prevent or mitigate damage that would otherwise be caused by friction-induced vibrations.