LDS- A Back to Basics Approach to Develop Linings for Brake System Integration

It is always a challenging task for the braking industry to maintain consistent friction material behavior during brake system development. Lack of consistency in friction behavior causes significant disruptions in efforts to integrate friction material with the foundation brake system. This is especially true when new friction formulations and/or manufacturing processes are introduced during an application program. Furthermore, every new program has new requirements that introduce new challenges and issues to the brake and friction manufacturers. As issues arise during the Application development, engineers devise countermeasures that often entail new engineering techniques and methods. Sometimes, such countermeasures amount to inventions to cover the inadequacy of lining behavior during brake integration. A standard procedure/method that can be applied for capturing essential friction design and process parameters, and ensuring consistent characteristics throughout the brake development and integration, is urgently needed. This paper will discuss in detail a comprehensive process we have introduced to automobile industry for years.