Disc brake

A method of moving a brake caliper of a disc brake assembly in an outboard axial direction in relation to a brake carrier by operating an actuating arrangement, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the actuating arrangement in which the actuating arrangement has a first portion secured to the brake caliper, and a second portion secured to the brake carrier, and wherein the actuating arrangement is configured to move the first and second portions in relation to one another so as to effect movement of the brake caliper in relation to the brake carrier, the actuating arrangement having an inactive state and an active state, wherein the first and second portions are urged toward a first position by a solenoid and the brake caliper is urged toward a relatively outboard position when in the active state;
• releasing the disc brake assembly from a braking operation;
• moving the actuating arrangement to the active state;
• upon initiation of the braking operation, simultaneously moving the actuating arrangement to the inactive state such that the brake caliper is slidable with respect to the brake carrier;
• and
• providing a sensor configured to detect a total potential running clearance and determining a distance by which the brake caliper is to be moved based on the total potential running clearance.

A disc brake assembly for a vehicle, the disc brake assembly comprising:

• first and second brake pads operable to contact a rotor during a braking operation to slow the vehicle, the rotor having a central axis defining an inboard-outboard axial direction;
• a brake carrier that receives at least the first brake pad;
• a brake caliper arranged to slide with respect to the brake carrier in the inboard-outboard axial direction to clamp and release of the rotor by the first and second brake pads;
• an actuating arrangement that selectively moves the brake caliper in an outboard axial direction in relation to the brake carrier;
• wherein the actuating arrangement is electrically operated, wherein the actuating arrangement is configured to move the brake caliper by a predetermined distance, wherein, when no braking operation is taking place, the disc brake assembly has a total potential running clearance between each of the first and second brake pads and the rotor, and wherein the predetermined distance is related to the total potential running clearance;
• and
• a control system that operates the actuating arrangement, wherein the control system comprises a running clearance sensor that detects the total potential running clearance between each of the first and second brake pads and the rotor, wherein the control system sets the predetermined distance based on information from the running clearance sensor.