Noise attenuating friction assembly

Abstract

A brake pad assembly () comprising a molded material () affixed to a backing plate () having opposed faces (), one or more non-circular extrusion openings () through its thickness, and tab-like extensions () or other integral attachment for incorporating the assembly () by location and support into a vehicle brake system. The molded material () extends over both opposed faces () of the backing plate () by being extruded through the extrusion openings () to provide a unitary structure wherein molded material () at one side of the backing plate () functions as a friction-generating pad material () and the portion of the molded material () at the opposite side of the backing plate () functions as the assembly shim-like noise attenuating element () due to vibration damping properties. The number, configuration, and placement of the extrusion openings () through the thickness of the backing plate () is varied to alter the noise attenuating properties of the assembly (), further reducing the tendency for modal locking of brake components.