Disc brake caliper and friction pad mounting means

Claim 1

A caliper-type disc brake including a caliper housing removably mounted on torque arms and having arcuately spaced, axially extending crossover portions defining an open top therebetween and supporting a pair of friction pads and backing plates on opposite sides of the disc, the improvement comprising means defining a first pair of arcuately spaced-apart plateengaging surfaces on said crossover portions positioned on one axial side of the disc to receive the torque from one of said plates, means defining a second pair of corresponding arcuately spaced-apart plate-engaging surfaces on said crossover portions positioned generally at the opposite axial side of the disc to receive the torque from the other of said backing plates, each of said backing plates being provided with opposite surface engaging means and having tabs proportioned to overlie said crossover portions and exclusively supporting the associated plates against inward movement, the friction pads on said plates being received in underlying relation to said crossover portions and formed with an arcuate length which exceeds the arcuate length of said tabs, and means in at least one of said crossover portions defining a slot axially between an adjacent pair of said surfaces proportioned to provide clearance for the radially inward movement only of said friction pads when said housing is moved away from said disc permitting the removal and replacement of the plates inwardly thereof through said housing.