Sliding caliper parking brake having positive brake pad retraction

Abstract

A sliding caliper parking brake that positively retracts of both the outer and the inner brake pads upon de-actuation of the parking brake is provided. The parking brake includes a caliper body, a mounting assembly that slidably mounts the caliper body on the suspension of the vehicle so that is movable with respect to a brake rotor, and at least one piston assembly movably mounted in a bore in the caliper body and having an end connected to an inner brake pad. An outer brake pad is fixedly connected to the caliper body and is moved into engagement with an outer side of the brake rotor when the caliper body is moved along the mounting assembly as a result of the inner brake pad extending into engagement with the inner side of the brake rotor. The mounting assembly includes a resilient member, which may be one or Belleville springs, that restores the caliper body to an initial position that positively disengages the outer brake pad from the outer side of the brake rotor when the inner brake pad is retracted out of engagement with the inner side of the brake rotor, thereby preventing brake drag after the parking brake is released.