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Maximum fluid displacement and drag are among the major performance requirements in a brake caliper design. Among the factors that affect displacement and drag, the seal-groove provides the cheapest design option for modifying the caliper performance. However, full use of the flexibility in seal groove design is limited by the current industry reliance on engineering experience and prototype testing. In this paper, two numerical models are presented for evaluating the effects of the seal groove, housing, and lining on caliper performance. These models provide reliable and timely design predictions for a brake caliper design with considerable savings in product development time and costs.

This paper addresses the design and development of a Semi-Solid Metal (SSM) aluminum master cylinder for vehicle applications. This light weight, near-net-shape, fully dense aluminum master cylinder manufactured by semi-solid forming (SSF) methods is being supplied by Delphi for automotive and truck brake systems. Several million master cylinders have been put into service over the past three years with an outstanding field service record. The application illustrates the benefits of a supplier/customer joint development in the design and manufacture of lightweight, high quality, critical application parts at a cost competitive with other less reliable casting methods. One of the advantages of using an aluminum SSM forging in place of the traditional permanent mold casting is the improved dimensional control capability which makes possible a reduction in mass and final machining.

A system engineering process has been applied to brake system hydraulic components, allowing rapid prototype development with minimal hardware iterations. Early application and validation of math based models, together with the use of ‘flexible’ hydraulic configurations, provides for a wide range of functionality. This allows the limits of performance to be established early in the development process. The process has been used to develop a variety of brake system hydraulic components, including proportional valves, pressure relief valves and pumps.

Disc brake noise continues to be a major concern throughout the automotive industry despite efforts to reduce its occurrence. As a major supplier of automotive brake components, Delphi Chassis is continually investigating means to reduce disc brake noise. In this paper, experimental and analytical methods are discussed which reduce the occurrence of automotive disc brake noise. Three general categories of brake noise are discussed. These categories are low frequency noise, low frequency squeal, and high frequency squeal. A general description of all three categories and examples of relevant solutions are presented.