Brake assembly having a retraction spring and method of assembly

A brake assembly comprising:

• a first brake pad assembly that includes:
• a friction material having a first lateral side, a second lateral side that is disposed opposite the first lateral side, an upper side that extends from the first lateral side toward the second lateral side, a lower side that is disposed opposite the upper side and extends from the first lateral side toward the second lateral side, and a back side that extends between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
• and
• a first backplate having a first lateral backplate side, a second lateral backplate side disposed opposite the first lateral backplate side, a first backplate face that engages the back side of the friction material and extends from the first lateral backplate side to the second lateral backplate side, and a first hole that extends from the first backplate face and is positioned laterally outboard with respect to the first lateral side and is positioned laterally inboard with respect to the first lateral backplate side;
• and
• a second brake pad assembly that includes a second friction material disposed on a second backplate that has a second hole, wherein the first backplate of the first brake pad assembly and the second backplate of the second brake pad assembly each have a lower backplate side that contacts a brake carrier;
• and
• a retraction spring that is partially received in the first and second holes, wherein the retraction spring has a coil that extends around a center axis, first and second biasing arms that extend from the coil, and first and second biasing tips that extend from ends of the first and second biasing arms, respectively, wherein the first and second biasing tips are received in holes in the first and second backplates, respectively, and exert a biasing force that rotates the lower backplate sides of the first and second backplates away from each other.

A method of assembling a brake assembly, the method comprising:

• providing a first brake pad assembly and a second brake pad assembly that each include:
• a friction material having a first lateral side, a second lateral side that is disposed opposite the first lateral side, an upper side that extends from the first lateral side toward the second lateral side, a lower side that is disposed opposite the upper side and extends from the first lateral side toward the second lateral side, and a back side that extends between the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
• and
• a backplate having a first lateral backplate side, a second lateral backplate side disposed opposite the first lateral backplate side, a first backplate face that engages the back side of the friction material and extends from the first lateral backplate side to the second lateral backplate side, and a hole that extends from the first backplate face;
• providing a retraction spring that includes:
• a coil that extends around a center axis and intersects a center plane that extends orthogonal to the center axis;
• first and second biasing arms that extend from the coil;
• a first biasing tip that extends along a first central axis from an end of the first biasing arm;
• and
• a second biasing tip that extends along a second central axis from an end of the second biasing arm, wherein the first central axis extends at a first oblique angle relative to the center plane, and the second central axis extends at a second oblique angle relative to the center plane when the retraction spring is in a free state;
• and
• positioning the first biasing tip in the hole in the backplate of the first brake pad assembly and positioning the second biasing tip in the hole of the second brake pad assembly.