GM working on a new disc brake to eliminate brake squeal
By Andrew, 04 Jan, 2012. 0 Comments
GM Quiet Brakes
General Motors engineers wanted to eliminate the screeching sound produced by brakes. They are now developing a quieter brake technology that would put an end to the source of frustration for many car owners and automotive technicians who want to find a solution for the noise from this otherwise normally functioning brake. To absorb the vibrations and keep it quiet, this GM-patented design called the Coulomb friction-damped disc brake that features a thin ring of metal embedded in the brake rotor.
It is named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb, the 18th century physicist who came up with the friction-based damping mechanism. GM will use this quieter brake technology with a corrosion resistant brake technology on over 80% of GM’s U.S. vehicles by model year 2016. This may save customers over $400 in over 10 years. GM engineers are testing the quieter brake but it’s likely to be offered on several of its cars and trucks within two to three years. What makes the Coulomb damped brake more remarkable is that it enables the brake to just do its job, according to Jim Webster, GM engineering technical expert for rotors. Due to friction in the brakes, they produce a significant amount of noise when the pads are pressed against the flat face of the rotor to slow or stop the vehicle.
“When we design brakes, our goal is to make them an extension of the driver,” Webster said. “When the brake pedal is applied, the customer shouldn't have to worry about unwanted noises. The car should just stop or slow down within the distance that’s expected. The Coulomb damped brake allows the brake to perform quietly as a seamless part of the automobile.”
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