Brake assembly

A brake assembly for a heavy duty vehicle comprising:

• a brake carrier;
• a caliper that is mounted to the brake carrier;
• a first brake pad that is received in the brake carrier, the first brake pad having a first backplate and a first friction material;
• a second brake pad that is received in the brake carrier, the second brake pad having a second backplate and a second friction material;
• a pad retraction spring having a first supporting portion, a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion;
• and
• a first stop surface;
• wherein the first friction material and the second friction material face each other and define a partially enclosed volume therebetween for accommodating a brake rotor, the first stop surface is located radially outward of the partially enclosed volume, and a rotor plane is disposed between the first brake pad and the second brake pad;
• wherein the first backplate comprises a first backplate face and the second backplate comprises a second backplate face, the first and second backplate faces facing the rotor plane;
• wherein the first engaging portion of the pad retraction spring engages the first backplate face and the second engaging portion of the pad retraction spring engages the second backplate face, the pad retraction spring urging the first and second brake pads in a direction away from the rotor plane, wherein the first supporting portion is configured to abut the first stop surface such that the pad retraction spring is inhibited from entering the partially enclosed volume;
• and
• wherein the caliper comprises an aperture and the brake assembly comprises a pad retainer that bridges the aperture and is secured to the caliper, the pad retainer being located radially outward of the partially enclosed volume, wherein the pad retainer comprises the first stop surface.